THE  UNIVERSITY 


OF  ILLINOIS 
LIBRARY 

353 
W GTn 


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‘COLUMBIA!  COLUMBIA!  -to  glory  arise, 

The  Queen  of  the  world  and  the  child  of  the  skies; 
Thy  genius  commands  thee.”  x x x. 
x x x “Ne'er  encrimson  thy  name; 

Be  FREEDOM  and  SCIENCE  and  VIRTUE  thy  fame.” 


The  Nation: 

ITS 

Rulers  and  Institutions; 

OR, 

OUTLINES  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT. 


By  ANSON  WILLIS, 

Formerly  Judge  of  the  District  Court,  New  York. 


NEW-WOKLD  PUBLISHING  COMPANY: 
PHILADELPHIA,  PA.,-  BOSTON,  MASS.,-  CINCINNATI,  0.; 
LANSING,  MICH. ; NEW 'ORLEANS,  LA. 

J.  R.  FOSTER  & CO.,  PITTSBURG,  PA. 

R.  T.  ROOT,  BURLINGTON,  IOWA. 

1871. 


res 


/ 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1871,  by 
NEW-WORLD  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

(John  C.  Copper. — S.  J Vandersloot,) 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


TAKE  KOTICE! — The  publishers  of  this  work  assure  the  public  that  they 
neither  deal  with  Booksellers  nor  publish  Trade  Books— being  exclusively  engaged 
in  the  subscription  business — and  that  none  of  their  publications  can  honestly  and 
legitimately  go  into  the  stores.  They  therefore  caution  all  just  and  fair-minded 
persons  against  buying  “ Mimic  World”  from  any  others  than  Canvassing  Agents. 


7^7 


Special  to  the  Reader. 


In  presenting  this  volume  to  the  public,  we  earnestly 
invite  attention  to  the  importance  of  the  knowledge 
contained  in  it — being  a display  of  the  arrangement  and 
character  of  our  Institutions,  and  an  exhibit  of  the  sta- 
tistical history  and  official  career  of  the  Nation,  from 
the  beginning  to  the  present. 

All  should  have  the  facts  it  furnishes — not  merely 
for  the  sake  of  possessing  them,  but  that  their  thoughts 
and  feelings  may  be  advanced  and  intensified  in  behalf 
of  the  best  interests  of  the  country.  None  should  for- 
get that  they  are  citizens  of  a great  and  influential 
government,  and  upon  their  intelligence  depends,  in  a 
large  measure,  its  future  (and  are  they  intelligent  citi- 
zens who  fail  to  comprehend  the  nature  and  objects  of 
citizenship?).  The  more  we  consider  the  true  relation- 
ship existing  between  the  governing  power  and  the 

governed,  under  our  system — the  bearing  of  the  one 

1 


79309 


2 


SPECIAL  TO  THE  READER. 


upon  the  public  and  private  life  of  each  individual  of  the 
other — the  more  we  are  impressed  with  the  value  of 
these  pages  to  every  household  in  the  land. 

Although  our  country  is  not  quite  one  hundred  years 
old — comparatively  in  its  youth — yet  it  has  had  a re- 
markable experience,  and  has  passed  through  scenes  of 
even  worse  than  folly.  Shall  not  then  the  past  induce 
us  to  pay  more  and  more  attention  to  such  an  education 
of  the  public  mind  as  will  fit  all  to  act  well  their  part  ? 
And  shall  not  the  people  have  placed  within  their  reach 
such  instruction  as  will  the  better  enable  them  to  en- 
force a righteous,  economical,  and  wise  government  on 
the  part  of  their  servants  ? 

Surely  no  reflecting  mind  can  dwell  upon  the  vastness, 
fertility,  beauty  and  wealth  of  this  young  Nation  with- 
out deeply  feeling  how  important  it  is  that  it  should 
be  preserved — accumulate  additional  strength  and  glory 
in  the  eyes  of  the  world, — and  that  coming  generations 
should  peacefully  and  happily  enjoy  the  blessings  so 
beneficently  bestowed  on  us  by  a kind  Providence. 

Philadelphia,  1871. 

The  Publishers. 


Introduction. 


There  is  no  sentiment  that  ever  gained  more  uni- 
versal acceptance  among  the  people  of  this  country, 
than  that  contained  in  the  following  words  : “ If  our 
form  of  government  can  be  preserved,  it  must  be  done 
by  the  intelligence  and  virtue  of  the  people.” 

Few,  if  any,  have  ever  gainsay ed  this  proposition,  or 
doubted  its  truth,  yet  many  have  doubted  the  perma- 
nence of  our  institutions  : and  these  doubts  arise  from 
their  lack  of  confidence  in  the  intelligence  and  recti- 
tude of  a majority  of  the  people. 

These  fears  are  not  entirely  groundless,  in  view  of 
the  common  rule  of  judging  the  future  by  the  past; 
for  every  observer  of  the  political  actions  of  our  peo- 
ple, knows  that  many  things  have  been  done  by  parties 
and  individuals,  that  demonstrate  the  lamentable  desti- 
tution of  one,  if  not  both  these  elements  of  safety. 
Some  have  intelligence,  but  very  little  virtue — others 
have  virtue,  but  very  little  intelligence  : and  some  have 

neither.  Now  when  either  of  these  classes,  or  all  of 

iii 


!V  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

them  combined,  bear  rule,  mischief  must  follow,  and 
a complete  overthrow  may  be  the  result. 

A general  knowledge  of  the  principles  and  opera- 
tions of  our  government,  is  a part — but  by  no  means 
all — of  that  intelligence  which  is  so  universally  admit- 
ted to  be  necessary  to  the  preservation  of  it. 

But  it  is  no  easy  task  for  a young  man  to  gain  such 
an  understanding  of  these  things  as  will  qualify  him 
to  act  his  part  well,  when  he  arrives  at  the  age  which 
allows  him  to  enter  upon  his  duties  as  a citizen  of  the 
republic,  to  hold — it  may  be — official  positions  in  it,  or 
at  least  to  vote  understandingly  for  those  who  shall 
administer  its  affairs. 

And  it  is,  matter  of  some  surprise  that  no  one  has 
taken  it  in  hand,  long  before  this,  to  write  something 
of  the  nature  of  a text  book,  in  which  these  things  may 
be  found  arranged  and  explained,  in  so  simple  and  plain 
a form,  as  to  give  the  reader  a general  and  comprehen- 
sive idea  of  the  structure,  institutions  and  plan  of  oper- 
ating the  government  under  which  he  lives.  In  no 
country  is  such  knowledge  of  so  great  importance  as 
in  ours,  where  every  citizen  may  make  his  influence 
felt  in  the  administration  of  public  affairs,  and  where 
that  influence  always  tells  for  good  or  evil.  Our  edu- 
cation is  very  deficient  if  it  does  not  embrace  a knowl- 
edge of  the  scheme  of  government ; and  it  seems  to  us 
that  it  is  as  proper  a subject  for  the  instruction  of  the 


INTRODUCTION. 


V 


school-room  as  many  others  which  are  taught  there. 
But  if  this  is  neglected,  certainly  the  young  man 
ought  not  to  be  left  to  pick  up  this  knowledge,  here  a 
little  and  there  a little,  in  detached  portions,  as  he 
may  chance  to  find  it  scattered  through  books,  news- 
papers, public  speeches  and  casual  conversations ; yet 
these  are  the  only  sources  from  which  nine-tenths  of 
the  people  have  gained  all  they  know  of  the  political 
afiairs  of  their  own  country  ; and  what  is  thus  gained 
is  rarely  acquired  till  middle  life,  and  in  a majority  of 
cases  not  until  a later  period. 

By  these  reasons  we  have  been  prompted  to  write 
the  book  before  you,  in  order  to  place  these  matters, 
in  compact  and  methodical  form,  within  the  reach  of 
every  one  who  desires  to  understand  them.  We  have 
aimed  throughout  at  plainness  and  perspicuity ; not 
avoiding  repetition  whenever  the  subject  treated  of 
could  be  made  plainer  by  its  use.  Statements  will  be 
found  in  one  connection,  and  again  in  another,  when- 
ever the  fact  stated  appeared  to  be  especially  applica- 
ble to  the  subject  under  consideration. 

We  think  that  an  attentive  perusal  of  these  chapters 
will  give  the  reader  a correct  idea  of  the  organization 
and  mode  of  operating  the  United  States  Government, 
together  with  an  insight  into  the  machinery  by  which 
it  is  done.  When  this  is  acquired,  it  becomes  an  easy 
task  to  understand  the  government  of  the  thirty-seven 


VI 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


States  which,  compose  one  great  Confederated  Union, 
and  to  comprehend  the  fact  that  every  person  in  the 
United  States  lives  under  two  separate  and  distinct 
governments,  and  is  amenable  to  two  dilferent  codes 
of  laws ; first,  that  of  the  State  in  which  he  resides, 
and  second,  that  of  the  United  States,  commonly 
termed  the  General  Government.  Much  in  both  is  an- 
alagous,  especially  the  legislative  and  judicial  proceed- 
ings. The  wisdom  of  the  framers  of  our  Constitution 
adjusted  these  imperii  in  imperio — governments  within 
a government,  so  that  all  work  harmoniously,  and  with 
very  little  friction,  or  conflict  of  authority. 

We  have  not  treated  of  the  State  governments,  nor 
could  we  have  done  so  without  going  far  beyond  the 
limits  assigned  to  this  work.  Each  State  is  noticed, 
however,  in  some  remarks,  as  to  the  time  of  its  en- 
trance into  the  Union,  its  size,  population,  circuits  and 
districts,  as  prescribed  by  the  laws  of  Congress.  But 
this  is  to  show  their  relations  to  the  entire  Union,  and 
the  relative  influence  and  power  they  have  as  various 
parts  of  one  great  whole. 


Contents. 


PAGE. 

Academy,  Military 229 

a Naval 232 

Admiralty  and  Maritime  Jurisdiction 101 

Agriculture,  Bureau  of . 279 

Alabama,  State  of 310 

Ambassadors  and  Foreign  Ministers . 156 

Arkansas,  State  of 312 

Armories  and  Arsenals 234 

Army  and  Navy . 235 

Articles  of  War 241 

Assay  Office 223 

Attorney  General  of  the  United  States .... .............  64 

Attorneys,  District.... 93 

Banks,  National 225 

Bonds 183 

Buildings,  Public  and  Commissioner  of 270 

Cabinet,  The 66 

California,  State  of 313 

Census ...127,  378-9 

Chaplains 244 

Chronology  of  the  United  States 434 

Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  Sec’yof  the  Senate...  105 

Coast  Survey 249 

Columbia,  District  of * \ 305 

Commissioners 290 

Congress 22 

“ Acts  of 108 

Congressmen 103 

Congressional  Districts 104 

Connecticut,  State  of 315 

vii 


viii  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Constitution,  The 16  and  399 

u Amendments  to 409 

Consuls 160 

Copyrights .-.260 

Courts,  the  United  States 77 

Court,  the  United  States  Supreme 78 

Courts,  the  Circuit 83 

u the  District . 87 

Court  of  Claims 90 

Custom  House  and  Custom-House  Officers 194 

Cutters,  Revenue 217 

Declaration  of  Independence 395 

Delaware,  State  of 317 

Duties  and  Tariffs 211 

Elections 133 

“ Presidential 137 

Electors 154 

Flag  of  the  United  States.. 121 

Florida,  State  of 319 

Georgia,  State  of 320 

Hospitals  and  Asylums 265 

Illinois,  State  of 322 

Impeachment 297 

Internal  Revenue 191 

Indians 281 

Indian  Territory 382 

Indiana,  State  of 324 

Iowa,  State  of... 325 

Jury,  Grand 97 

Kansas,  State  of 327 

Kentucky,  State  of 328 

Lands,  the  Public 201 

Land  Warrants  and  Bounty  Lands 209 

Laws  of  the  United  States 122 


CONTENTS. 


IX 


PAGE. 

Letters  of  Marque  and  Eeprisal 176 

Libraries,  Congressional  and  Law 272 

Light  Houses,  Buoys  and  Beacons 251 

Louisiana,  State  of 330 

Maine,  State  of 332 

Marshals,  United  States 95 

Maryland,  State  of 333 

Massachusetts,  State  of. 335 

Mason  and  Dixon’s  Line 300 

Michigan,  State  of. 337 

Minnesota, State  of 339 

Mint 219 

Mississippi,  State  of . 340 

Missouri,  State  of., 342 

Missouri  Compromise . . 298 

Naturalization  Laws  127 

Neutrality  Laws.... 131 

Nebraska,  State  of . . 343 

New  Hampshire,  State  of.. 344 

New  Jersey  State  of.......... ... 346 

New  York,  State  of..... 348 

North  Carolina,  State  of 351 

Nevada,  State  of....... 353 

Oaths 185 

Observatory,  the  Naval 246 

Ohio,  State  of 354 

Oregon,  State  of * 356 

Patent  Office,  Patent-Eights,  and  Commissioner  of  Patents 256 

Pennsylvania,  State  of 357 

Pensions,  Pension  Office,  and  Commissioner  of  Pensions 262 

Passports 286 

Political  Divisions 302 

Post-Office  Department  and  Postmaster  General 57 

President,  The 30 

“ The  Vice 35 

Printing  Office,  The  Government 275 

Prisons 278 

Proclamations 293 

Public  Debt 506 


X 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Ratio  of  Representation Ill 

Register,  The  Official 274 

Religion 292 

Reports . * 288 

Revenue ' 189 

“ Internal 191 

Rhode  Island,  State  of 359 

Rules  of  the  House  of  Representatives ...413 

Seals .....180 

Secretary  of  State,  and  State  Department 38 

“ of  Treasury,  and  Treasury  Department 43 

“ of  War,  and  War  Department 47 

“ of  Navy,  and  Navy  Department 51 

il  of  the  Interior,  and  Interior  Department 54 

Smithsonian  Institution 254 

South  Carolina,  State  of 361 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives 106 

Suffrage 178 

States 307 

“ Names  and  Mottoes  of 376 

Statistics  of  Population,  &c 378 

Tennessee,  State  of. 364 

Territories 380 

Texas,  State  of 366 

Tonnage 216 

Treaties 163 

“ Extradition 172 

Treason 295 

United  States,  The 11 

Vermont,  State  of 368 

Virginia,  State  of ......370 

Wars  of  the  United  States 384 

West  Virginia,  State  of 373 

Wisconsin,  State  of. 375 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


The  Nation. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  United  States, 

On  the  fourth  day  of  July,  1776,  a number  of  dele- 
gates from  thirteen  British  Colonies  in  North  America, 
assembled  together  in  Philadelphia,  and  after  some 
deliberation  upon  the  oppression  and  wrongs  which  the 
mother  country  had  for  many  years  inflicted,  drew  up 
and  signed  a paper,  in  which  they  enumerated  the 
various  acts  of  the  King  of  England,  George  the  Third, 
by  which  he  and  his  ministers  had  deprived  the  people 
of  these  Colonies  of  their  just  rights,  and  oppressed 
them  by  acts  of  tyranny  and  injustice.  They  declared 
that  these  acts  had  been  continued  for  several  years, 
that  they  had  become  intolerable,  and  that  the  King 
and  his  ministers  would  neither  hear  their  just  com- 
plaints, listen  to  their  remonstrances,  nor  regard  their 
petitions  for  redress;  and  that  all  their  acts  combined 
constituted  a just  cause  for  the  Colonies  to  rebel 
against  the  authority  of  England,  and  to  maintain  their 
rights  by  force  of  arms,  as  they  found  it  impossible  to 
obtain  them  in  any  other  way.  They  also  declared  that  a 
Sovereign  who  would  so  rule  and  govern  his  subjects  was 
utterly  unworthy  to  rule  over  them,  and  that  they  had 


12 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


the  right  to  throw  oft*  his  authority  and  to  establish  a 
government  for  themselves.  These  declarations  they 
printed,  and  sent  forth  to  the  world  on  the  day  before 
named,  in  justification  of  the  accompanying  Declara- 
tion of  Independence;  after  this  they  positively 
refused  any  further  obedience  to  him  or  to  the  laws  of 
England.  The  4th  of  July,  1776,  has  for  this  reason 
been  styled  the  birth-day  of  our  nation,  and  has  since 
been  celebrated  as  such  on  every  annual  return  of  it. 
For  seven  years  after  this  event,  the  people  underwent 
a hard  and  bloody  struggle  to  maintain  the  position 
they  had  taken;  nor  was  it  until  the  year  1783,  that 
our  independence  was  acknowledged  by  England, 
or  that  we  were  recognized  by  other  governments  as 
one  among  the  family  of  nations.  Hot  until  1789,  did 
the  people  of  these  Colonies,  [now  States,]  organize  a 
government,  and  take  rank  among  the  other  govern- 
ments of  the  world,  with  all  the  attributes,  powers  and 
rights  of  a distinct  political  power. 

Here  are  three  events : — First,  the  Declaration  of 
Independence ; — Second,  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
war ; and  Third,  the  Inauguration  of  the  United  States 
government. 

And  now,  without  tracing  the  successive  steps  by 
which  this  nation  has  advanced  from  thirteen  feeble 
Colonies  to  thirty-seven  States,  [some  of  which  have 
more  wealth,  population,  and  power,  than  the  whole 
thirteen  had  in  1776,]  and  from  less  than  four,  to 
thirty-nine  millions  of  people,  with  equally  rapid  strides 
in  the  arts,  sciences,  education,  inventions  and  general 
progress,  no  thoughtful  mind  can  refrain  from  looking 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 


13 


into  the  causes  of  such  unprecedented  advancement. 
A few  feeble  Colonial  subjects,  in  less  than  a century, 
becoming  one  of  the  great  powers  of  the  world,  with 
the  prospect  of  attaining  the  highest  place  among  the 
nations,  in  much  less  time  than  it  has  taken  them  to 
gain  their  present  position. 

That  we  have  a very  extensive  territory  is  true ; that 
we  have  a diversified  climate,  a productive  soil,  with 
many  long  and  navigable  rivers  on  which  to  float  our 
productions  to  market,  and  that  we  have  inexhaustible 
mines  of  coal  and  minerals  of  almost  every  kind, 
including  gold  and  silver,  is  true.  But  we  might  have 
all  these,  and  still  remain  an  insignificant  people 
among  the  families  of  the  earth,  for  all  these  have  been 
possessed  by  nations  who  have  retrograded  instead  of 
advanced. 

In  our  case,  a wise,  just  and  liberal  government  has 
been  the  principal  cause  of  our  progress,  and  our  pre- 
sent and  prospective  greatness. 

No  human  government  is  perfect,  neither  can  exact 
and  equal  justice  be  done  in  every  case  by  human  laws. 
But  the  scope  and  design  of  our  legislation  and  juris- 
prudence is  to  dispense  justice  to  all,  to  place  all  on 
an  equality  before  the  laws,  and  to  give  the  same  rights 
to  the  rich  and  to  the  poor.  No  privileged  class  is 
known  to  our  laws,  and  the  lowest  may  aspire  to  the 
highest  places  of  distinction  and  honor;  many  have 
done  so,  and  have  reached  the  most  exalted  positions. 
The  fullest  religious  liberty  is  granted  to  all;  every 
man  may  worship  as  he  pleases,  when  and  where  he 
pleases,  without  molestation  or  fear.  He  is  not  as  in 


14  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

many  other  countries  taxed  to  support  a church  estab- 
lished by  law.  He  may  pay  for  religious  purposes  as 
much  or  as  little  as  he  pleases,  and  to  any  church  he 
prefers,  or  he  may  pay  nothing,  and  no  one  can  call 
him  to  account  or  use  any  compulsion  whatever  in  this 
matter. 

Every  citizen  has  a vote  for  the  choice  of  his  rulers, 
and  through  his  representatives  a voice  in  making  the 
laws  by  which  he  is  governed. 

As  to  his  business  or  calling,  he  may  do  that  which 
best  suits  his  interests  or  his  tastes.  He  may  go  when 
or  where  he  desires,  he  may  stay  in  the  country  or 
leave  it  without  restraint  or  hindrance;  in  short,  he 
may  do  whatsoever  seemeth  good  to  him,  provided  he 
does  not  infringe  on  the  rights  of  others. 

To  this  liberty,  to  these  equal  rights,  privileges  and 
advantages  do  we  attribute  our  rapid  growth  and 
power.  The  advantages  and  benefits  of  so  wise,  so 
liberal  and  so  beneficent  a government  are  not 
unknown  to  the  people  of  other  countries  where  they 
do  not  enjoy  so  much  freedom ; and  this  accounts  for 
the  wonderful  immigration  to  the  United  States  from 
nearly  every  country  in  Europe.  This  flow  has  con- 
tinued for  more  than  three  quarters  of  a century,  and 
is  still  unabated.  It  has  added  many  millions  to  the 
natural  increase  of  our  population,  while  very  few  of 
our  own  people  ever  leave  their  own  country  with  the 
hope  of  bettering  their  condition,  or  of  finding  a gov- 
ernment under  which  they  can  enjoy  more  liberty  or 
better  protection.  To  gain  a clearer  conception  of  the 
intimate  connection  between  a good  government  and 


THE  UNITED  STATES. 


16 


the  prosperity  of  the  country,  let  us,  for  example,  place 
Mexico  in  contrast  with  the  United  States.,  Mexico 
was  settled  long  before  the  United  States,  and  in  cli- 
mate and  mineral  wealth  has  the  advantage  of  us; 
yet  the  ever  unsettled  condition  of  its  government, 
together  with  intolerance  of  any  but  the  Catholic 
religion,  has  prevented  any  increase  of  population  or 
any  advancement  in  any  thing  which  gives  a nation 
respectability,  greatness  or  power. 

Let  us  draw  another  contrast  by  considering  Ireland. 
An  oppressive  government  has  diminished  the  popula- 
tion, prevented  any  advancement,  and  impoverished 
the  country.  We  might  draw  many  such  contrasts 
between  the  United  States  and  other  countries  in 
Europe,  Asia,  Africa  and  South  America,  which  would 
convince  any  one  who  has  the  power  to  trace  causes  to 
effects,  and  effects  to  causes,  that  a just  and  liberal 
government  is  an  essential  condition  upon  which  the 
prosperity  of  any  country  depends. 

But  after  all  the  good  we  find  inhering  in  our  Repub- 
lican institutions,  we  have  to  admit  that  some  things 
are  wrong;  that  like  all  other  human  institutions, 
errors  and  imperfections  are  found  in  them.  Yet 
what  friend  to  humanity  would  raise  an  impious  hand 
to  overthrow  that  in  which  so  much  good  is  found  ? 
Let  him  rather  labor  to  preserve  the  good,  and  to  cor- 
rect the  remaining  evil.  Neither  our  Constitution  nor 
our  laws  are  like  the  laws  of  the  Medes  and  Persians, 
which  change  not;  but  may  be  altered  whenever  a 
majority  of  the  people  desire  it. 

And  if  our  people  grow  in  intelligence,  wisdom  and 
patriotism,  is  it  not  to  be  hoped  that  they  will  preserve 
what  is  good,  correct  what  is  wrong,  and  thus  perfect 
and  perpetuate  our  government  until  it  shall  become  a 
model  worthy  of  imitation  by  the  people  and  nations 
of  the  whole  earth  ? 


16 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Constitution. 

After  the  Seven  Years’  war,  spoken  of  in  the  fore- 
going chapter,  (generally  known  by  the  name  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,)  was  over  and  peace  restored,  the 
people  found  themselves  without  any  government,  or 
if  the  Confederation  under  which  the  Colonies  had 
managed  to  act  together  during  the  war,  might  be 
called  a government,  it  was  certainly  inadequate  to  the 
wants  of  a people  who  had  just  become  independent; 
and  who  needed  a stronger  bond  of  union  than  that 
which  had  held  them  together  during  the  struggle  for 
liberty,  when  a common  danger  and  a common  enemy 
served  as  a bond  during  their  perilous  condition.  To 
supply  this  want  a convention  from  all  the  States  was 
called  together  to  draw  up  a Constitution,  which  should 
form  such  a union,  and  at  the  same  time  be  a basis 
which  would  support  a well  organized  government. 
This  convention  met  and  performed  the  task  assigned. 
It  framed  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  about 
which  we  subjoin  the  following  remarks. 

1.  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  finish- 
ed and  signed  on  the  17th  day  of  September,  1787. 
It  was  framed  by  a convention  of  the  greatest  and 
wisest  men  in  the  nation  at  that  time,  or  perhaps  at  any 
time.  They  were  chosen  for  that  express  purpose,  and 
represented  each  of  the  thirteen  States  excepting  Rhode 


THE  CONSTITUTION. 


IT 


Island,  which  had  no  representation  in  the  convention, 
and  sat  several  months  deliberating  on  the  great  work 
before  them.  George  Washington  was  the  president 
of  the  convention  ; and  in  the  Constitution  a clause  was 
inserted  declaring  that  the  ratification  of  it  by  nine 
States  should  be  sufficient  to  establish  its  authority 
over  all,  for  although  made  by  the  men  chosen  for  that 
purpose,  it  was  not  considered  binding  upon  the  people, 
until  it  had  been  sanctioned  by  three-fourths  of  the 
States.  This  was  subsequently  done,  and  the  work  of 
the  convention  became  the  charter  of  our  liberties,  and 
the  great  foundation  stone  of  one  of  the  most  mag- 
nificent structures  ever  erected  by  the  genius  and  wis- 
dom of  man. 

2.  The  ratification  of  the  Constitution  by  the  several 
States  necessarily  required  time.  Hence  the  govern- 
ment established  by  its  provisions  did  not  go  into  op- 
eration till  March,  1789.  In  the  mean  time  General 
Washington  had  been  chosen  the  first  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  a Congress  had  been  elected  in  con- 
formity with  the  provisions  of  the  new  and  as  yet  un- 
tried Constitution.  The  President  was  inaugurated,  the 
first  Congress  assembled  in  the  city  of  Hew  York,  and 
the  government  of  the  United  States  was  put  into  oper- 
ation. 

3.  But  before  the  first  session  of  Congress* closed,  it 
was  thought  by  a majority  of  the  body  that  the  Con- 
stitution in  the  shape  in  which  the  convention  had  left 
it,  was  defective,  and  that  there  should  be  several  addi- 
tions or  amendments  made  to  it.  In  conformity  with 
this  opinion  ten  amendments  were  proposed  and  passed 


18 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


in  the  manner  provided  in  the  instrument  itself;  to  wit, 
by  a vote  of  two-thirds  of  both  houses.  These  ten 
amendments  were  subsequently  ratified  by  the  requisite 
number  of  States  (three-fourths,)  and  became  apart  of  the 
Constitution.  In  the  same  manner  the  eleventh  amend- 
ment was  proposed,  passed  and  adopted  in  1794,  and 
the  12th  in  1803.  From  this  last  date  the  Constitution 
remained  unchanged  until  January  31, 1865,  when  the 
House  passed  a resolution  in  favor  of  another  amend- 
ment; the  Senate  passed  the  same  resolution  during  the 
previous  session. 

4.  In  order  to  show  more  fully  how  the  Constitution 
is  amended,  and  what  proceedings  are  taken  in  order 
to  do  it,  we  here  insert  the  resolution,  and  the  subse- 
quent doings  of  all  the  parties  who  must  act  upon  it 
to  consummate  the  proposed  amendments.  This 
example  will  show  how  all  the  amendments  have  been 
made,  and  how  others  may  hereafter  be  made. 

THE  RESOLUTION. 

5.  Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress 
assembled,  two-thirds  of  both  Houses  concurring,  that 
the  following  articles  be  proposed  to  the  Legislatures 
of  the  several  States  as  an  amendment  to  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States,  which,  when  ratified  by 
three-fourths  of  said  Legislatures, shall  be  valid  to  all 
intents  and  purposes  as  a part  of  said  Constitution,  viz. : 

Article  13.  First,  neither  slavery  nor  involuntary 
servitude,  except  as  a punishment  for  crime  whereof  the 
party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted,  shall  exist  within 
the  United  States,  or  auy  place  subject  to  their  juris- 
diction. 

Second.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this 
article  by  appropriate  legislation. 


THE  CONSTITUTION. 


19 


This,  as  numbered,  made  the  thirteenth  article  of  the 
amendments,  twelve  having  been  made  as  before  stated. 
[See  the  Constitution  and  amendments  as  inserted  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  book.] 

6.  After  this  resolution  had  passed  both  Houses 
of  Congress,  and  after  the  proposed  amendment  had 
been  ratified  by  the  requisite  number  of  States,  the 
Secretary  of  State,  as  the  laws  direct  him  to  do,  caused 
the  resolution  and  the  amendments  to  be  published  in 
all  the  States  and  Territories,  and  declared  it  to  be 
valid  as  a part  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

This  thirteenth  article  of  the  amendments  to  the 
Constitution  as  it  now  stands,  is  one  which  has  proba- 
bly received  more  public  attention,  and  caused  more 
discussion  than  any  other  article  in  the  whole  docu- 
ment: because  by  it  slavery  in  all  the  dominions  of  the 
United  States  has  been  constitutionally  abolished. 

7.  We  will  make  one  other  remark  in  relation  to  this 
thirteenth  article,  to  wit:  it  grew  out  of  the  result  of  the 
war  between  the  North  and  South.  President  Lincoln 
had,  on  Jan.  1,  1863,  by  virtue  of  his  authority  as  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United 
States,  issued  his  proclamation,  declaring  slavery  to  be 
abolished  in  all  the  States  which  had  seceded  from  the 
Union,  but  this  did  not  touch  slavery  in  the  slave 
States  which  had  not  seceded,  viz.  : Kentucky,  Mary- 
land, Missouri,  Delaware,  and  West  Virginia.  More- 
over there  were  doubts  as  to  the  constitutionality  of 
Mr.  Lincoln’s  act  in  this  respect.  But  this  amendment 
superseded  that  question,  and  made  a clean  sweep  of 
the  whole  matter,  both  in  the  seceded  and  in  the  loyal 
States. 


20  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

8.  The  framers  of  the  Constitution  undoubtedly  bor- 
rowed many  ideas  incorporated  therein  from  the  laws 
of  England,  under  which  they  had  formerly  lived; 
they  constituted  Congress  with  two  Houses,  the  same 
as  the  English  Parliament,  the  House  of  Lords  answer- 
ing to  our  Senate,  and  the  House  of  Commons  to  our 
House  of  Representatives.  Many  other  analogies 
between  the  two  governments  can  be  traced. 

9.  But  while  this  is  true,  they  as  studiously  avoided 
every  thing  in  the  English  laws  which  they  deemed 
inconsistent  with  the  principles  of  a free  Republican 
government. 

In  article  3,  section  3,  we  find  the  following: — 

“Ho  attainder  of  treason  shall  work  corruption  of 
blood  or  forfeiture,  except  during  the  life  of  the  person 
attainted.' 5 

This  is  precisely  the  opposite  of  the  English  law  in 
relation  to  treason ; for  when  a man  is  there  guilty  of 
treason,  his  children  cannot  inherit  the  father’s  titles 
or  property.  The  parent  being  corrupted  by  treason, 
his  children  are  considered  corrupted  also  ; this  is  what 
is  meant  by  “ corruption  of  blood  ” in  the  language  of 
the  Constitution.  It  then  declared  that  no  such  thing 
should  be  allowed  in  the  United  States:  in  other 
words,  it  follows  the  law  of* God,  which  expressly 
declares,  “ The  son  shall  not  bear  the  iniquity  of  the 
father,  neither  shall  the  father  bear  the  iniquity  of  the 
son.”  Which  do  you  like  best,  the  English  or  the 
American  law? 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  has  served  in 
some  respects  as  a model  for  the  State  Constitutions  ; 


THE  CONSTITUTION. 


21 


and  no  State  would  be  admitted  into  the  Union,  whose 
Constitution  contained  any  thing  contrary  to  that  of 
the  United  States.  It  extends  its  authority  over  every 
State  and  Territory,  restraining  them  from  making  a 
Constitution  or  enacting  any  laws  inconsistent  with 
any  of  its  provisions.  It  is  the  supreme  law  of  the 
land.  It  binds  the  Executive,  the  Legislative  and  the 
Judicial  branches  of  the  government  as  much  as  the 
humblest  individual.  It  should  be  carefully  read  and 
understood  by  every  one  who  lives  under  it,  especially 
by  every  one  who  exercises  the  elective  franchise.  It 
teaches  us  our  rights,  our  exalted  privileges  and  our 
duties  as  citizens  of  the  Republic. 

10.  Throughout  our  work  we  have  so  often  alluded 
to  it  and  its  provisions,  that  we  have  thought  it  advi- 
sable to  append  the  whole  document  to  this  work  that 
the  reader  may  at  any  time  turn  to  its  pages,  and  con- 
sult its  provisions  on  any  point  upon  which  he  may  de- 
sire information. 

Read,  learn  and  digest  its  meaning — keeping  in  mind 
that  it  is  the  supreme  law  of  the  land.  Its  provisions 
are  binding  upon  every  officer  and  every  citizen  ; upon 
Congress,  upon  every  State  Legislature,  and  upon 
every  court,  from  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States  down  to  the  lowest  State  tribunal.  All  are 
bound  to  act,  legislate,  and  adjudicate  in  conformity 
with  the  principles  of  the  Constitution. 


22 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  IH. 

Congress. 

1.  The  Legislative  branch  of  our  government  is  styled 
Congress ; in  that  of  England  it  is  denominated  Par- 
liament; and  in  that  of  France,  the  Corps  Legislatif. 
Our  Constitution  places  the  power  of  enacting  laws  in 
Congress  ; no  other  branch  of  the  government  can  do 
it.  It  is  emphatically  a representative  body.  Its  mem- 
bers represent  the  people,  and  are  supposed  to  do  just 
what  the  entire  mass  of  the  people  would  do  if  it  were 
practicable  for  them  to  assemble  in  one  great  body, 
and  there  to  discuss,  and  then  pass  the  laws  by  which 
they  are  willing  to  be  governed. 

2.  It  consists  of  two  parts,  or  Houses,  as  these  parts 
are  called  ; the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives.* 
Both  assemble  at  the  same  time,  in  Washington,  on 
the  first  Monday  of  December  in  each  year,  for  the 
transaction  of  business.  The  meeting  at  this  time  is 
called  the  regular  session — regular,  to  distinguish  it 
from  extra  sessions,  which  the  President  may  call  if  he 
defcms  it  necessary.  This  division  of  the  National 

* Legislature  into  two  branches,  was  undoubtedly  bor- 
rowed from  the  English  government;  for  the  law- 

* The  Legislatures  of  all  the  States  and  Territories  are  formed 
after  the  model  of  Congress ; that  is,  all  have  a Senate  and  a lower 
House,  called  in  some  States  by  one  name,  and  in  others  by  another, 
but  all  meaning  the  lower  branch  of  the  legislative  body. 


CONGRESS. 


23 


making  power  in  England  is  divided  into  two  branches ; 
the  House  of  Lords,  answering  to  our  Senate,  and  the 
House  of  Commons,  quite  analagous  to  our  House  of 
Representatives.  Indeed  it  was  quite  natural  for  the 
framers  of  our  government  to  imitate  that  of  England. 

Anterior  to  the  Revolution  which  separated  us  from 
England,  our  fathers  had  lived  under  its  institutions 
and  laws,  many  of  which  were  good,  and  were  subse- 
quently incorporated  with  the  new  fabric.  "Whatever 
was  incompatible  with  a Republican  form  of  govern- 
ment, and  that  equality  of  rights  which  they  deter- 
mined to  bestow  upon  every  citizen,  was  rejected. 

THE  SENATE. 

3.  This  branch  of  the  National  Legislature  is  consti- 
tuted very  differently  from  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives. It  is  composed  of  two  members  from  each  State, 
without  regard  to  the  size  or  population  thereof.  New 
York,  now  the  most  populous  State  in  the  Union,  has  but 
two  Senators  in  Congress,  while  the  least  populous  State 
has  the  same  number.  They  are  not  elected  like  the 
members  of  the  lower  House,  by  the  people,  but  by 
the  Legislatures  of  the  respective  States  which  they 
represent.  They  are  also  elected  for  a longer  term  than 
the  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives ; a Sen- 
ator is  chosen  for  six  years,  wdiile  a Representative  in 
the  other  House  is  elected  for  only  two. 

4.  The  word  Senate  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word 
senalus , which  signifies  old ; and  older  men  are  gener- 
ally selected  for  the  Senate  than  for  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives. Indeed  the  Constitution  declares  that  a 
Senator  shall  be  thirty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his 


24  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

election,  and  that  he  must  have  been  a citizen  of  the 
United  States  for  nine  years  ; whereas  a member  of  the 
House  is  eligible  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  if  he  has 
been  a citizen  seven  years. 

5.  The  Senate,  like  the  House  of  Lords  in  England, 
is  often  styled  the  upper  House ; while  the  House  of 
Representatives,  for  the  sake  of  brevity,  is  generally 
styled  “the  House.”  The  Senate  is  considered  the 
higher  and  more  dignified  of  the  two,  because  men  of 
age,  talent,  wisdom  and  experience  are  generally  se- 
lected for  this  exalted  position.  Again,  the  Senate  has 
powers  which  the  House  does  not  possess.  When  act- 
ing in  their  legislative  capacity,  both  have  equal  powers, 
but  the  Senate,  in  connection  with  the  President,  has 
the  power  to  ratify  treaties.  It  alone  confirms  or  rejects 
the  President’s  nominations  to  offices,  and  also  acts  as  a 
high  court  to  try  cases  of  impeachment.  These  impor- 
tant duties  and  prerogatives  belong  exclusively  to  the 
Senate  without  the  concurrence  of  the  House.  All 
bills,  (the  draft  of  all  laws  when  presented  to  a legisla- 
tive body  for  its  approval  or  disapproval,  are  called 
bills,)  excepting  those  for  raising  revenue,  may  originate 
either  in  the  Senate  or  the  House  ; yet  much  the  larger 
number  of  bills  do  originate  in  the  House,  because  it 
has  about  three  times  the  number  of  members  which 
the  Senate  has,  and  because  the  members  of  the  House 
are  more  immediate  representatives  of  the  people  than 
the  Senators.  A greater  number  of  the  people  know 
them,  and  usually  send  their  petitions  and  make  their 
wants  known  to  them — and  from  these  wants  of  the 
people,  laws  originate. 


CONGRESS. 


25 


6.  When  the  Senate  convenes  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
sidering the  nominations  made  by  the  President  for  the 
various  offices  to  which  he  has  the  right  of  appointment 
by  and  with  their  consent,  it  is  called  an  executive  ses- 
sion. A vote  of  approval  by  a majority,  gives  the  con- 
sent of  this  body  ; not  so,  however,  when  they  vote 
upon  the  ratification  of  a treaty ; for  in  this  case  the 
Constitution  requires  an  affirmative  vote  of  two-thirds 
of  all  present.  A two-thirds  vote  is  also  necessary  to 
give  a judgment  in  case  of  the  impeachment  of  any 
officer  of  the  government  who  may  be  arraigned  before 
them  for  trial. 

The  Vice  President  is  the  President  of  the  Senate  ; 
but  fn  case  of  a vacancy  in  this  office,  it  then  chooses  a 
President  from  its  own  members.  W e next  come  to  the 
HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 

7.  This  is  often  styled  “the  lower  House.”  It  has 
equal  power  with  the  Senate  in  the  enactment  of  all  laws ; 
for  no  bill  can  become  a law  unless  it  receives  a major- 
ity of  the  votes  of  both  Houses,  and  in  one  particular 
it  has  a power  which  the  Senate  does  not  possess  : it 
has  the  sole  power  of  impeachment.  We  have  stated 
that  the  Senate  has  the  power  to  ^impeachments,  but 
this  it  never  does  until  the  House  has  first  impeached 
some  officer  of  the  government  for  an  alleged  crime, 
after  which  the  Senate  resolving  itself  into  a court, 
tries  the  accused  party,  and  determines  his  guilt  or  in- 
nocence. The  part  which  the  House  takes  in  cases  of 
impeachment  is  very  analagous  to  the  action  of  a grand 
jury,  which  does  not  try  the  accused  party,  but  only 
says  after  examining  the  charges,  upon  what  evidence 


26  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

it  has,  that  he  or  she  ought  to  be  tried  in  a court  of 
law — so  with  the  House.  It  declares  that  the  accused 
party  should  have  a trial  before  the  Senate.  This  de- 
cision of  the  House  is  denominated  an  impeachment. 

8.  The  members  of  the  Senate,  as  above  stated,  are 
elected  by  the  Legislatures  of  the  respective  States 
which  they  represent ; but  the  members  of  the  House 
are  elected  by  the  people,  by  popular  vote,  as  it  is  com- 
monly said — for  any  body  in  any  £>tate  may  vote  for  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  who  has  the 
right  to  vote  at  all.  In  the  two  chapters  on  Congress- 
men and  Congressional  Districts,  more  may  be  seen 
on  the  subject  of  electing  members  to  the  lower  House. 
After  a bill  has  passed  one  House,  it  must  be  sent  to 
the  other,  where  it  is  referred  to  a committee,  reported, 
debated,  and  finally  voted  upon  exactly  as  in  the  other 
House. 

9.  But  bills  for  the  purpose  of  raising  revenue  must 
originate  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  never  in  the 
Senate,  although  these  bills,  like  all  others,  go  to  the 
Senate  for  its  concurrence,  where  they  may  be  amended 
by  adding  to  or  striking  out  such  parts  as  are  not  ap- 
proved. Ho  money  can  be  drawn  out  of  the  Treasury 
of  the  United  States  for  any  purpose  whatever,  unless 
authorized  and  appropriated  by  an  act  of  Congress. 

10.  This  is  the  order,  and  these  the  forms  through 
which  every  bill  must  pass  before  it  becomes  a law,  and 
they  show  the  care  taken  to  prevent  bad  laws  from 
being  enacted,  and  the  wisdom  of  the  framers  of  the 
Constitution,  in  dividing  the  legislative  power  of  the 
government  into  two  branches,  to  check  any  hasty  and 


CONGRESS. 


27 


inconsiderate  legislation  which  might  be  pushed  through 
one  branch,  by  the  cooler  and  more  deliberate  action 
of  the  other. 

11.  The  House  of  Representatives  has  no  President 
like  the  Senate.  Its  presiding  officer  is  called  “ The 
Speaker.”  He  is  chosen  by  the  votes  of  the  members, 
at  the  beginning  of  each  Congress,  which  lasts  two 
years.  Consequently  he  holds  his  office  two  years. 
The  Clerk  of  the  House  is  also  elected  by  its  mem- 
bers, as  are  all  its  minor  officers. 

12.  Correctly  speaking,  both  the  members  of  the  Sen- 
ate and  of  the  House,  are  members  of  Congress,  but  by 
custom,  Representatives  only  are  called  Members  of 
Congress,  (abbreviated  into  M.  C.,)  and  the  members 
of  the  Senate,  Senators. 

As  there  are  37  States  now,  the  Seriate  has  74  mem- 
bers, and  by  a law  of  1863,  the  number  of  Represent- 
atives was  fixed  at  241 ; but  if  a new  State  comes  into 
the  Union  after  an  apportionment,  her  member  or  mem- 
bers may  be  added  to  the  241,  and  so  continue  until 
the  next  apportionment. 

COMPENSATION. 

13.  Senators  and  members  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives receive  the  same  compensation,  the  amount 
of  which  has  been  twice  increased.  It  had  always  been 
eight  dollars  per  day,  down  to  1856,  when  it  was  in- 
creased to  three  thousand  dollars  per  session.  Then  in 
1866  it  was  again  raised  to  five  thousand  dollars  per 
session;  and  as  there  are  always  two  sessions  to  every 
Congress,  each  member  receives  ten  thousand  dollars 
during  his  full  term. 


28  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

14.  Mileage  is  an  additional  compensation.  Until 
1865  this  was  forty  cents  per  mile,  reckoned  from  the 
residence  of  the  member  to  Washington  by  the  usual 
roads  or  routes  between  the  two  places.  In  1865  the 
law  was  modified,  and  the  sum  fixed  at  twenty  cents 
per  mile.  “ The  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire/’  is  a 
maxim  from  the  highest  authority,  and  is  so  manifestly 
just  that  nobody  questions  its  truth.  But  giving  Mem- 
bers of  Congress  twenty  cents  per  mile  for  traveling  ex- 
penses, when  it  does  not  cost  them  four,  (in  these  days) 
is  as  manifestly  unjust  as  the  maxim  is  true.  It  is  rob- 
bery by  law;  and  how  the  majority  of  thirty-nine  Con- 
gresses have  consented  to  let  this  swindle  go  on,  and 
still  continue,  is  a matter  of  astonishment  to  every  one 
who  believes  that  “ righteousness  exalteth  a nation, 
but  sin  is  a reproach  to  any  people.” 

The  monstrous  inequality  this  law  makes  in  the  com- 
pensation of  members,  adds  to  the  wonder  that  it  has 
existed  so  long.  Those  who  live  near  Washington  do 
not  receive  a hundred  dollars  for  mileage,  while  those 
living  at  the  greatest  distance  pocket  twetve  thousand 
dollars  of  the  people’s  money  for  what  costs  them  five 
hundred. 

15.  During  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  up  to  the  time 
that  the  Constitution  went  into  operation,  (April  30, 
1789,)  the  thirteen  colonies  sent  delegates,  who  met 
whenever  the  exigencies  of  the  times  required  their 
action,  and  wherever  their  safety  and  convenience  dic- 
tated. These  delegates,  without  much  power  or 
authority,  did  such  things  as  seemed  necessary  to  be 
done  to  carry  on  the  war  and  to  keep  things  in  order. 


CONGRESS. 


29 


Their  acts  generally  met  with  the  approval  of  the  peo- 
ple ; for  in  times  of  such  common  danger,  they  were 
little  inclined  to  question  the  authority  of  those  who 
they  believed  were  acting  for  the  general  good ; and 
as  to  their  constitutional  powers  to  do  any  thing,  we 
have  only  to  say,  there  was  no  Constitution  then  but 
the  wishes  of  the  people. 

This  body  of  men,  denominated  the  “ Continental 
Congress,”  ceased  to  exist  after  the  adoption  of  our 
present  Constitution,  which  made  provision  for  a con- 
stitutional Congress,  whose  election,  power,  authority 
and  duties  are  all  clearly  defined  in  the  instrument  it- 
self. 

16.  The  first  Congress  after  the  adoption  of  the  Con- 
stitution met  in  New  York,  where  two  sessions  were 
held.  It  then  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  it  re- 
mained till  1800,  when  in  conformity  with  an  act  of 
Congress,  it  removed  to  Washington,  where  it  has  re- 
mained to  this  day. 

As  a Congress  continues  two  years,  if  at  any  time 
we  wish  to  know  how  many  Congresses  there  have 
been,  or  will  be  up  to  the  time  required,  reckon  the 
number  of  years  from  1789 — the  beginning  of  the 
first — to  the  year  in  question  ; then  divide  the  sum  of 
the  years  by  two,  and  the  quotient  will  give  the  exact 
number. 


30 


OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  IY. 

The  President. 

1.  “ The  Executive  powers  of  the  government  shall 
be  vested  in  a President  of  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica.” Thus  reads  the  first  line  of  the  first  section  of  the 
second  article  of  the  Constitution.  This  article  is  devo- 
ted exclusively  to  the  highest  officer  in  the  government. 
The  Executive  and  the  President  are  in  the  Constitu- 
tion synonymous  terms.  He  is  likewise  denominated 
“ the  chief  magistrate  of  the  nation.”  He  is  himself  one 
of  the  co-ordinate  branches  of  the  government.  These 
are  three  in  number;  first,  the  Legislative  [Congress]; 
second,  the  Executive  [the  President] ; third,  the  J udi- 
ciary  [the  Judges  of  the  United  States  Courts.]  These 
constitute  the  wThole  civil  power  of  the  nation.  Con- 
gress enacts  the  laws,  and  the  President  must  see  that 
they  are  faithfully  executed ; which  he  does  through 
the  various  Executive  departments,  and  the  different 
courts.  He  and  the  Senate  appoint  the  heads  of  these 
departments,  and  the  judges  of  the  courts,  and  they  ex- 
ecute the  laws.  The  heads  of  departments  act  under 
the  general  direction  of  the  President. 

2.  The  Presidents  are  elected  for  four  years,  and  are 
eligible  to  re-election.  Several  times  they  have  been 
re-elected,  and  have  consequently  held  the  office  eight 
years.  The  term  always  commences  on  the  fourth  day 
of  March,  and  terminates  on  the  same  day  of  the 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

FIRST  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  PRESIDENT. 


31 


month.  The  Presidential  elections,  the  most  impor- 
tant and  exciting  of  all  elections,  occur  every  four 
years,  and  now  take  place  in  all  the  States  on  the 
same  day,  early  in  November.  It  is  said  the  President 
is  chosen  by  the  people,  and  yet  they  do  not  directly 
vote  for  him  at  all. 

The  people  elect  Electors,  and  these  elect  the  Presi- 
dent and  Vice-President.  Turn  to  the  third  section  ot 
the  second  article  of  the  Constitution,  and  then  to  the 
twelfth  article  of  the  amendments  of  it,  where  you 
will  find  the  whole  process  properly  described.  He 
must  be  thirty-five  years  of  age  when  elected.  And 
in  case  of  his  death,  removal,  resignation,  or  any  disa- 
bility to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  Office,  the  Vice- 
President  then  becomes  President. 

He  receives  a salary  of  $25,000  a year  for  his  ser- 
vices besides  the  use  of  the  presidential  mansion,  (com- 
monly called  the  White  House,)  and  the  furniture  in  it, 
and  is  debarred  from  the  receipt  of  any  other  emolu- 
ment. 

4.  Before  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  he 
must  take  the  following  oath  or  affirmation : 

“I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I will  faith- 
fully execute  the  office  of  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  will,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  preserve, 
protect  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.” 

In  adition  to  his  civil  power,  he  is  Commander-in- 
Chief  both  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  and  may  grant  re- 
prieves and  pardons,  except  in  case  of  impeachment. 

He — by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent , of  two- 
thirds  of  the  Senate — may  make  treaties  with  foreign 
3 


32 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


powers.  He  has  the  power,  and  it  is  his  duty  to  nomi- 
nate, and  by  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  to 
appoint  ambassadors  and  other  public  ministers,  con- 
suls, judges,  and  in  short  all  other  officers  of  the  gov- 
ernment, whose  appointments  are  not  otherwise  pro- 
vided for. 

5.  It  is  also  made  his  duty  from  time  to  time,  to  lay 
before  Congress  information  respecting  the  state  of  the 
country,  and  to  recommend  to  their  notice  such  mea- 
sures as  he  may  deem  proper  and  beneficial  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  nation.  His  principal  and  most  impor- 
tant communication,  however,  is  that  made  to  Con- 
gress at  the  commencement  of  each  session.  This  is 
called  the  President’s  Message,”  and  is  always  looked 
for  with  much  interest,  both  at  home  and  abroad;  for 
it,  more  than  any  other  public  document,  shows  the 
condition  of  the  government  and  the  country,  both  in 
their  domestic  affairs  and  foreign  relations.  At  other 
times  the  President  sends  messages  to  Congress  upon 
some  special  matter,  which  he  considers  it  important 
for  that  body  to  know,  or  which  he  is  requested  to  lay 
before  it  for  information. 

He  may  call  extra  sessions  of  Congress  on  extraordi- 
nary occasions.  And  when  it  passes  any  bill  which  he 
does  not  approve,  and  he  refuses  to  sign  it,  it  cannot 
become  a law  unless  it  goes  back  to  Congress,  and  is 
again  passed  by  two-thirds  of  both  Houses.  This  is 
called  his  “veto  power.” 

6.  He,  with  all  civil  officers  of  the  United  States, 
may  be  impeached,  and  removed  from  office,  for 
treason,  bribery,  and  other  high  crimes. 


THE  PKESIDENT. 


33 


The  foregoing  powers  and  duties  are  conferred  upon 
the  President  by  the  Constitution  ; but  Congress  has, 
at  every  session  it  has  ever  held,  increased  these  pow- 
ers and  duties  until  he  is  overwhelmed  with  them;  and 
we  cannot  but  think  that  he  now  possesses  more  power 
than  the  framers  of  the  Constitution  ever  designed  to 
trust  in  any  one  man’s  hand. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  all  the  Presidents, 
from  Washington,  the  first,  down  to  the  present  in- 
cumbeut : 

George  Washington,  Va.,  30th  April,  1789,  to  4th 
March,  1797 — 8 years. 

John  Adams,  Mass.,  4th  March,  1797,  to  4th  March, 
1801—4  years. 

Thomas  Jefferson,  Va.,  4th  March,  1801to4th  March, 
1809 — 8 years. 

James  Madison,  Va.,  4th  March,  1809  to  4th  March, 
1817—8  years. 

James  Monroe,  Va.,  4th  March,  1817,  to  4th  March, 
1825 — 8 years. 

John  Quincy  Adams,  Mass,  4th  March,  1825,  to  4th 
March,  1829 — 4 years. 

Andrew  Jackson,  Tenn.,  4th  March,  1829,  to  4th 
March,  1837—8  years. 

Martin  Van  Buren,  17.  Y.,  4th  March,  1837,  to  4th 
March,  1841 — 4 years. 

William  II.  Harrison,  0.,  4th  March,  1841,  to  4th 
April,  1841—1  month. 

John  Tyler,  Va.,  4th  April,  1841,  to  4th  March,  1845, 
— 3 years  and  eleven  months. 

James  K.  Polk,  Tenn.,  4th  March,  1845,  to 4th  March, 

1849 —  4 years. 

Zachary  Taylor,  La.,  4th  March,  1849,  to  9th  July, 

1850— 1  year,  4 months,  and  5 days. 


34 


OUTLINES  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Millard  Fillmore,  1ST.  Y.,  9th  July,  1850,  to  4th 
March,  1853 — 2 years,  7 months,  and  26  days. 

Franklin  Pierce,  FT.  H.,  4th  March,  1853,  to  4th 
March,  1857 — 4 years. 

James  Buchanan,  Pa.,  4thMareh,  1857,  to  4th  March, 
1861—4  years. 

Abraham  Lincoln,  111.,  4th  March,  1861,  to  April, 
1865-4  years,  1 month,  andlOdays. 

Andrew  Johnson,  Tenn.,  April,  1865,  toMch.  4,  ’69. 

Ulysses  S.  Grant,  111.,  March  4th,  1869,  to  March  4th, 
1873. 

Of  these,  William  II.  Harrison  died  4th  April,  1841, 
just  one  month  after  his  inauguration.  On  the  death 
of  Harrison,  Tyler,  the  Vice-President,  became  acting 
President.  Taylor  died  July  9,  1850,  and  Fillmore, 
Vice-President,  became  acting  President.  Lincoln 
was  assassinated  on  the  14th  April,  1865,  one  month 
and  ten  days  after  he  was  inaugurated  upon  his 
second  term  ; and  Andrew  Johnson,  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent, became  acting  President ; this  being  the  third 
time  that  such  an  event  has  occurred  since  the  govern- 
ment went  into  operation. 


THE  VICE  PRESIDENT. 


35 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Vice  President. 

1.  The  high  sounding  title  of  this  officer  would 
iead  one  who  is  hut  little  acquainted  with  our  govern- 
ment to  think  that  he  stands  next  to  the  President 
himself  in  dignity  and  power;  that  on  his  shoulders 
rested  a large  amount  of  the  duties  and  responsibilities 
of  administration.  Such,  however,  is  not  the  case. 
He  is,  in  fact,  nearer  a cipher  than  any  of  the  high 
officers  of  State.  He  is  merely  the  presiding  officer  of 
the  Senate,  with  not  even  the  power  to  vote,  except  in 
case  of  a tie  vote  in  that  body,  when  he  may  give  the 
casting  vote.  It  is  only  in  case  of  the  death,  resigna- 
tion, impeachment,  or  disability  of  the  President  to 
discharge  his  duties,  that  the  Vice  President  becomes 
an  officer  of  much  power  or  dignity.  He  is  something 
like  an  heir-apparent  to  a throne.  The  Constitution 
provides  that  he  shall  take  the  President's  place  in  case 
any  of  the  foregoing  contingencies  occur;  and  up  to 
this  date  this  has  happened  three  times. 

2.  He  is  elected  at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  President,  and  for  the  same  term,  and 
must  possess  the  same  qualifications  ; that  is,  he  must 
be  a native  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the 
age  of  35  years. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  names  of  all  who  have 
filled  this  office,  from  John  Adams,  the  first,  down  to 


36 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


the  present  incumbent,  with  the  dates  of  entrance  upon 
their  duties. 

John  Adams,  Mass.,  30th  April,  1789,  to  4th  March, 
1797 — eight  years. 

Thomas  Jefferson,  Va.,  4th  March,  1797,  to  4th  March, 
1801 — four  years. 

Aaron  Burr,  N.  Y.,  4th  March,  1801,  to  4th  March,? 
1805 — four  years. 

George  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  4th  March,  1805,  to  20th 
April,  1812 — seven  years,  one  month,  sixteen  days. 
Elbridge  Gerry,  Mass.,  4th  March,  1813,  to  23d  Nov., 
1814 — one  year,  seven  months,  nineteen  days. 
Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  N.  Y.,  4th  March,  1817,  to  4th 
March,  1825 — eight  years. 

John  C.  Calhoun,  S.  C.,  4th  March,  1825,  to  4th  March, 
1833 — eight  years. 

.Martin  Van  Buren,  N.  Y.,  4th  March,  1833,  to  4th 
March,  1837 — four  years. 

Richard  M.  Johnson,  Ky.,  4th  March,  1837,  to  4th 
March,  1841 — four  years. 

John  Tyler,  Va.,  4th  March,  1841,  to  4th  April,  1841 
— one  month. 

George  M.  Dallas,  Pa.,  4th  March,  1845,  to  4th  March, 

1849 —  four  years. 

Millard  Fillmore,  N.  Y.,  4th  March,  1849,  to  9th  July, 

1850 —  one  year,  four  months. 

William  R.  King,  Ala. 

John  C.  Breckinridge,  Ky.,  4th  March,  1857,  to  4th 
March,  1861 — four  years. 

Hannibal  Hamlin,  Me.,  4th  March,  1861,  to  4th  March, 
1865 — four  years. 

Andrew  Johnson,  Term.,  4th  March,  1865,  to  15th 
April,  1865 — one  month,  eleven  days. 

Schuyler  Colfax,  Ind.,  Meh.  4th,  ’69,  to  Mch.  4th,  ’73. 

Of  these,  Clinton  died  April  20,  1812 ; from  which 
time  till  4th  March,  1813,  the  Vice-Presidency  was 
vacant. 


THE  VICE  PRESIDENT.  37 

Gerry  died  Nov.  23,  1814 ; from  which  time  till  4th 
March,  1817,  the  Vice  Presidency  was  vacant. 

Tyler  became  acting  President  upon  the  death  of 
President  Harrison ; and  until  March  4th,  1845,  the 
Vice  Presidency  was  vacant. 

Fillmore  became  acting  President  upon  the  death  of 
President  Taylor,  9th  July,  1850  ; and  until  March  4th, 
1853,  the  Vice  Presidency  was  vacant. 

King  was  elected  with  President  Pierce,  in  1852 ; 
but  died  18th  April,  1853.  He  never  took  his  seat, 
and  the  Vice  Presidency  was  vacant  till  4th  March, 
1857. 

Johnson  became  acting  President  upon  the  death  of 
President  Lincoln,  15th  April,  1865 ; and  the  Vice 
Presidency  again  became  vacant,  and  remained  so 
till  4th  March,  1869. 


38 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

State  Department,  and  Secretary  of  State. 

1.  The  Constitution  makes  no  mention  of  this 
department  of  the  government,  or  of  any  such  officer 
as  Secretary  of  State,  or  indeed,  of  any  other  of  the 
Executive  Departments,  or  of  their  official  heads. 
They  were  all  created  by  acts  of  Congress ; and  when 
it  first  met,  the  Constitution  was  the  only  guide  it  had 
for  its  action — but  that  clothed  it  with  all  the  legisla- 
tive power  of  the  government.  Consequently,  at  its 
very  first  session  it  passed  such  acts  as  were  necessary 
to  put  the  new  government  into  operation.  Several 
departments  were  created,  and  the  officers  for  their 
management  appointed.  This  was  the  first  of  all  the 
Executive  departments  created  by  Congress.  In  the 
outset  it  was  found  necessary  to  correspond  and  nego- 
tiate with  foreign  governments,  and  to  have  some  duly 
authorized  official  to  conduct  such  correspondence. 
Hence,  this  department  of  the  government  was  estab- 
lished, and  at  first  denominated  “ the  Department  of 
Foreign  Affairs ; ” and  the  principal  officer  at  its  head 
was  denominated  “ the  Secretary  for  the  Department  of 
Foreign  Affairs.”  But  before  the  close  of  this  session 
of  Congress,  for  some  reason  it  was  determined  to 
change  the  denomination  of  it  from  that  of  “ Depart- 
ment of  Foreign  Affairs,”  to  that  of  “ Department  of 
State ;”  and  that  of  the  Secretary,  to  “ Secretary  of 


STATE  DEPARTMENT.  39 

State ; ” and  by  these  names  they  have  ever  since  been 
known. 

2.  The  Secretary  of  State  in  our  government,  is  the 
highest  officer  after  the  President.  He  is  what  in 
other  governments  is  called  the  Prime  Minister.  In 
monarchial  governments  all  the  high  officers  of  State 
are  called  Ministers ; hut  in  ours  they  are  known  by 
the  modest  name  of  Secretaries. 

By  a law  passed  in  1853,  the  office  of  Assistant  Sec- 
retary of  State  was  created.  The  incumbent  acts 
under  the  direction  of  the  Secretary.  Previous  to 
this  act,  the  principal  inferior  officer  in  the  State 
Department  was  the  Chief  Clerk,  who  is  appointed  by 
the  Secretary. 

3.  The  great  seal  of  the  United  States  is  in  the  cus- 
tody of  the  Secretary  of  State,  and  it  is  his  duty  to 
affix  it  to  all  civil  commissions  to  officers  of  the 
United  States  who  are  appointed  by  the  President  and 
Senate,  or  by  the  President  alone. 

4.  Under  the  direction  and  instruction  of  the  Presi- 
dent, the  law  makes  it  his  duty  to  hold  correspondence 
and  give  instructions  to  our  Foreign  Ministers  and 
Consuls,  and  also  to  hold  correspondence  with 
public  Ministers  from  foreign  governments,  and  to 
do  all  other  things  relating  to  foreign  matters  which 
the  President  shall  direct  him  to  perforn. 

5.  It  is  also  made  his  duty  to  keep  in  his  office  the 
original  copies  of  all  acts,  resolutions  and  orders  of 
Congress.  He  must  also  deliver  to  each  Senator  and 
Representative  in  Congress,  and  to  the  Governor  of 
.each  State,  a printed  copy  of  the  same ; and  during 


40  OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

the  session  of  each  Congress  he  must  publish  the  acts 
and  resolutions  passed  by  it  in  one  newspaper  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  in  not  more  than  two  in  each 
State  and  Territory  of  the  United  States.  He  must 
also  publish  in  like  manner  all  amendments  of  the 
Constitution,  and  all  public  treaties  made  and  ratified 
between  the  United  States  and  any  foreign  State, 
Prince  or  Power,  or  with  any  of  the  Indian  tribes. 

6.  And  at  the  close  of  each  session  of  Congress  he 
must  cause  to  be  published  11,000  copies  in  book  form 
of  all  the  laws,  &c.,  as  before  stated ; and  to  distribute 
the  same  as  directed  by  law  to  the  President  and  Vice 
President,  and  to  every  ex-President ; to  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives ; tQ 
all  the  heads  of  the  various  departments  and  bureaus ; 
to  all  the  Judges  of  the  United  States  Courts,  their 
Clerks  and  Marshals;  to  all  our  Foreign  Ministers, 
Consuls  and  Public  Agents ; in  short,  to  all  the  import- 
ant officers  of  the  government  at  home  and  abroad ; 
in  order  that  all  who  are  in  government  employ  may 
know  what  the  laws  are,  and  what  changes  have  been 
made  in  acts  formerly  existing.  The  remaining  copies 
are  distributed  to  the  States  and  Territories  according 
to  the  number  of  Representatives  in  Congress  from 
each  of  them. 

7.  It  is  also  made  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  of  State  to 
give  passports  to  our  own  citizens  who  wish  to  travel 
in  foreign  countries ; to  cause  passports  to  be  issued 
by  such  Diplomatic  or  Consular  officers  of  the  United 
States  as  the  President  shall  direct ; to  give  such  infor- 
mation to  our  people  through  the  newspapers  as  he 


STATE  DEPARTMENT. 


41 


may  from  time  to  time  receive  from  our  Diplomatic 
and  Consular  agents  abroad,  as  he  may  deem  import- 
ant to  the  nation,  respecting  our  commercial  interests 
in  foreign  countries,  and  to  prepare  a form  of  passport 
for  American  ships  and  vessels  of  the  United  States. 

8.  In  the  execution  of  extradition  treaties  between 
us  and  foreign  governments,  it  is  lawful  for  the  Secre- 
tary of  State,  under  his  hand  and  seal  of  office,  to 
issue  an  order  for  the  rendition  of  any  person  who  has 
been  found  guilty  of  crime  in  a foreign  country,  to 
any  properly  authorized  person  ; that  such  criminal 
may  be  taken  out  of  the  United  States  to  the  country 
where  the  crime  was  committed. 

9.  We  have  thus  sketched  the  principal  duties  of 
this  high  officer  of  State,  and  can  readily  see  that  they 
are  arduous.  Those  which  relate  to  foreign  affairs  are 
exceedingly  responsible ; for  peace  or  war  may  often 
depend  on  the  skill  and  wisdom  with  which  he  man- 
ages our  affairs  with  foreign  governments. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  duties,  he  is  a member 
of  the  Cabinet,  and  hence  is  one  of  the  President’s 
advisers  and  counselors ; and  in  relation  to  foreign 
matters,  he  has  more  influence  than  any  other  member 
of  that  body.  He  is  appointed  by  the  President,  by 
and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate.  He  is 
appointed  for  four  years ; that  is,  during  a Presidential 
term ; but  may  be  removed  by  the  President  at  any 
time.  This,  however,  is  rarely  done.  He  receives  a 
salary  of  $8,000  per  annum. 

10.  Asa  matter  of  historical  reference,  we  append 
the  names  of  all  the  statesmen  who  have  filled  this 


42 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


high  office,  commencing  with  the  first,  and  placing 
them  in  the  order  of  the  dates  of  their  appointments, 
together  with  the  States  from  which  they  came : 

SECRETARIES  OF  STATE. 

Thomas  Jefferson,  Va.,Sept.  26,  1789. 

Edmund  Randolph,  Va.,  Jan.  2,  1794. 

Timothy  Pickering,  Mass.,  Dec.  10,  1795. 
John  Marshall,  Va.,  May  13,  1800. 

James  Madison,  Va.,  March  5,  1801. 

Robert  Smith,  Md.,  March  6,  1809. 

James  Monroe,  Va.,  April  2,  1811. 

John  Quincy  Adams,  Mass.,  March  4,  1817. 
Henry  Clay,  Ky.,  March  7, 1825. 

Martin  Van  Buren,  H.  Y.,  March  6,  1829. 
Edward  Livingston,  La.,  May  24, 1831. 

Louis  McLane,  Del.,  May  29,  1833. 

John  Forsyth,  Ga.,  June  27,  1834. 

Daniel  Webster,  Mass.,  March  5,  1841. 

H.  S.  Legare,  S.  C.,  May  9,  1843. 

A.  P.  Upshur,  Va.,  June  24,  1843. 

John  ISTelson,  Md.,  Feb.  29,  1844. 

John  C.  Calhoun,  S.  C.,  March  6,  1844. 

James  Buchanan,  Pa.,  March  5,  1845. 

John  M.  Clayton,  Del.,  March  7,  1849. 

Daniel  Webster,  Mass.,  July  20, 1850. 

Edward  Everett,  Mass.,  Dec.  9,  1851. 

William  L.  Marcy,  N.  Y.,  March  5,  1853. 
Lewis  Cass,  Mich.,  March  6,  1857. 

Jeremiah  S.  Black,  Pa.,  Dec.  14,  1860. 

William  H.  Seward,  FT.  Y.,  March  5,  1861. 
Elihu  B.  Washburne,  111.,  March  5th,  1869. 
Hamilton  Fish,  FT.  Y.,  March  11th,  1869. 


SECRETARY  OF  THE  TREASURY. 


43 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 

1.  If  any  department  of  the  government  should  ever 
be  abolished,  it  certainly  will  not  be  this;  for  without 
it,  or  some  institution  very  similar  in  its  plan,  the  gov- 
ernment itself  would  crumble  into  its  original  ele- 
ments,— individual  persons.  Without  money,  no  gov- 
ernment could  be  sustained.  The  Treasury  is  the 
place  into  which  the  money  flows,  and  from  which  it 
flows. 

2.  The  United  States  Treasury  is  the  receptacle  of 
all  the  funds,  (or  an  account  of  them,)  collected  from 
whatever  source,  for  carrying  on  the  various  opera- 
tions of  the  government.  It  was  established  by  a law 
of  Congress  in  1789;  and  with  such  modifications  of 
the  law  as  experience  has  proved  to  be  necessary,  it 
remains  to  this  day.  We  embrace  in  our  account  ot 
the  Treasury  Department,  its  head,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  and  his  duties;  for  it  would  be  difficult  to 
describe  one  without  the  other.  This  office  was  crea- 
ted at  the  same  time  with  the  department  itself.  It  is 
one  of  great  responsibility,  and  the  incumbent  should 
be  thoroughly  skilled  in  the  science  and  management 
of  finances;  for  no  other  man  in  the  United  States  has 
such  vast  sums  to  provide,  receive  and  disburse,  as  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  During  the  late  civil  war 
they  amounted  to  hundreds  of  millions  a year. 

3.  lie  is  appointed  like  all  other  heads  of  depart- 


44 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


ments,  by  the  President  and  Senate;  holds  his  office 
for  four  years,  unless  sooner  removed;  is  a member  of 
the  Cabinet;  and  receives  $8,000  a year  as  salary. 
Connected  with  him,  as  aids  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  are  an  Assistant  Secretary,  a Comptroller,  and 
Second  Comptroller,  five  Auditors,  Treasurer,  and  his 
assistant,  a Register  and  his  assistant,  a Commissioner 
of  Customs,  a Comptroller  of  the  Currency,  and  a dep- 
uty and  a Solicitor  of  the  Treasury ; all  these  officials 
are  appointed  by  the  President  and  Senate. 

4.  These,  with  several  hundred  clerks,  constitute  the 
officials  and  machinery  by  which  this  great  depart- 
ment of  the  Government  is  operated.  It  would  be 
quite  too  tedious,  and  of  doubtful  utility,  to  describe 
the  particular  duties  of  each  of  these  officials.  Suffice 
it,  therefore,  to  say,  that  each  one  has  his  specific 
duties  to  perform,  without  any  interference  with  oth- 
ers; and  perhaps  the  world  could  not  show  another 
establishment,  where  such  a vast  amount  of  business 
is  transacted  with  more  order,  skill  and  accuracy  than 
at  this  office. 

5.  Here  the  accounts  of  all  receivers  and  disbursers  of 
government  money,  are  presented  and  settled;  after 
having  been  examined  and  approved  by  several  of  the 
above  named  officials,  who  are  charged  with  this 
duty. 

6.  The  Commissioner  of  Customs  attends  to  the  ac- 
counts of  Collectors  of  duties  imposed  on  imported 
goods.  The  First  Comptroller  must  collect  debts  due 
to  the  United  States,  and  superintend  the  adjustment 
and  preservation  of  the  public  accounts. 

The  First  Auditor  receives  all  accounts  coming  into 


JOHN  ADAMS. 

SECOND  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


1 

SECRETARY  OE  THE  TREASURY.  45 

the  department;  the  Second,  Third,  Fourth  and  Fifth 
Auditors  each  examine  the  accounts  of  such  depart- 
ment as  is  assigned  to  them  respectively. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  go  further  in  detailing  the  par- 
ticular duties  of  the  officers  of  this  department.  We 
have  only  noticed  a few  of  them,  merely  as  examples 
of  the  system  of  conducting  the  business  of  this  great 
branch  of  the  Government. 

7.  Let  it  not  be  understood  that  all  the  monies  col- 
lected and  disbursed  by  the  United  States  are  received 
and  paid  out  at  the  Treasury  building  at  Washington, 
which  is  only  the  principal  office  at  the  seat  of  Gov- 
ernment,— for  in  addition  to  this  there  are  Sub-Treasu- 
ries in  several  of  the  large  cities,  where  the  public 
monies  are  received  and  disbursed.  The  head  officers 
of  these  Sub-Treasuries,  are  termed  Assistant  Treasu- 
rers. 

The  law  also  makes  the  Treasurer  of  the  Mint  at 
Philadelphia,  and  the  Treasurers  of  some  of  the  branch 
mints,  Assistant  Treasurers,  for  they  have  public  mon- 
ies in  their  keeping,  and  if  so  ordered  by  the  Treasury 
Department  at  Washington,  they  disburse  it  as  directed. 
The  same  orders  are  sometimes  given  to  collectors, 
post-masters,  receiver  of  the  land  offices,  &c.,  and  they 
disburse  as  well  as  receive  government  funds;  but  the 
accounts  of  all  these  must  be  sent  to,  and  settled  in  the 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 

8.  Any  one  would  readily  suppose  that  men  intrus- 
ted with  the  receipt  and  disbursement  of  such  large 
sums  of  the  people’s  money,  should  give  security  for 
their  fidelity  to  their  trusts.  This  the  law  requires, 


46 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


and  this  they  must  do  before  they  enter  upon  their  re- 
spective duties.  But  in  spite  of  all  precautions,  dis- 
honest men  get  into  those  places ; and  public  default- 
ers are  not  rare  specimens  of  humanity,  among  office 
holders. 

SECRETARIES  OF  THE  TREASURY. 

Alexander  Hamilton,  FL  Y.,  Sept.  12,  1789. 
Oliver  Wolcott,  Ct.,  Feb.  4, 1795. 

Samuel  Dexter,  Mass.,  Dec.  31,  1800. 

Albert  Gallatin,  Pa.,  May  14,  1801. 

George  W.  Campbell,  Tenn.,  Feb.  9,  1814. 
Alexander  J.  Dallas,  Pa.,  Oct.  6,  1814. 

William  H.  Crawford,  Ga.,  Oct.  22,  1816. 
Richard  Rush,  Pa.,  Mar.  7,  1825. 

Samuel  D.  Ingham,  Pa.,  Mar.  6,  1829. 

Louis  McLane,  Del.,  Aug.  8,  1831. 

William  J.  Duane,  Pa.,  "May  29,  1833. 

Roger  B.  Taney,  Md.,  Sept.  23, 1833. 

Levi  Woodbury,  FT.  H.,  June  27,  1834. 

Thomas  Ewing,  0.,  Mar.  5,  1841. 

Walter  Forward,  Pa.,  Sept.  13,  1841. 

John  C.  Spencer,  H.  Y.,  Mar.  3,  1843. 

George  M.  Bibb,  Ky.,  June  15,  1844. 

Robert  J.  Walker,  Miss.,  ar.  5,  1845. 

W.  M.  Meredith,  Pa.,  Mar.  7,  1849. 

Thomas  Corwin,  0.,  June  20,  1850. 

James  Guthrie,  Ky.,  Mar.  5,  1853. 

Howell  Cobb,  Ga.,  Mar.  6,  1857. 

Philip  F.  Thomas,  Md.,  Dec.  10,  1860. 

John  A.  Dix,  FT.  Y.,  1861. 

Salmon  P.  Chase,  O.,  Mar.  5,  1861. 

William  P.  Fessenden,  Me.,  July,  1864. 

Hugh  McCulloch,  Ind.,  1864. 

George  S.  Boutwell,  March  11, 1869. 


SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 


47 


CHAPTER  YIH. 

The  War  Department,  and  Secretary  of  War. 

1.  The  name  of  this  department  sufficiently  indicates 
the  design  and  object  of  its  creation,  and  the  kind  of 
public  business  committed  to  its  care  and  management. 
The  Secretary  of  "War  is  the  head  of  it,  its  principal 
officer.  He  is  one  of  the  great  officers  of  State  and  a 
member  of  the  Cabinet.  He,  like  all  the  heads  of  de- 
partments, is  appointed  by  the  President  and  Senate. 
Four  years  is  the  time  for  which  he  is  appointed,  but, 
with  the  consent  of  the  Senate,  he  may  be  sooner  re- 
moved by  the  President,  if  he  sees  fit  to  do  so.  He 
receives  $8,000  per  annum  as  his  salary.  In  military 
authority  he  ranks  next  to  the  President. 

2.  As  stated  in  another  place,  the  Constitution  makes 
no  specific  provision  for  this  or  any  other  of  the  de- 
partments into  which  the  government  is  divided. 
They  are  all  the  creations  of  Congress,  and  exist  by 
enactments  of  law.  The  War  Department,  with  sev- 
eral others,  was  created  at  the  first  session  of  the  first 
Congress,  which  met  after  the  Government  went  into 
operation  under  the  Constitution,  in  1789. 

3.  We  can  convey  no  better  idea  of  the  object  of 
establishing  this  department  and  the  officer  at  its  head, 
than  by  quoting  the  first  section  of  the  act  by  which 
they  were  created:  “ There  shall  be  an  Executive  De- 
partment, to  be  denominated  the  Department  of  War; 


48 


OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


and  there  shall  be  a principal  officer  therein,  to  be 
called  the  Secretary  for  the  Department  of  War,  who 
shall  perform  and  execute  such  duties  as  shall  from 
time  to  time  be  enjoined  on  or  entrusted  to  him  by 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  agreeably  to  the 
Constitution,  relative  to  military  commissions  or  to  the 
land  forces,  ships,  or  warlike  stores  of  the  United 
States;  or  to  such  other  matters  respecting  military 
affairs  as  the  President  of  the  United  States  shall  as- 
sign to  the  said  department ; and  furthermore,  the  said 
principal  officer  shall  conduct  the  business  of  the  said 
department  in  such  manner  as  the  President  of  the 
United  States  shall  from  time  to  time  order  or  in- 
struct.’’ 

4.  According  to  the  act  by  which  this  department 
was  established,  a Chief  Clerk,  appointed  by  the  Secre- 
tary, was  the  second  officer  in  authority  in  it,  and  acted 
in  his  stead  in  case  of  vacancy  in  the  Secretaryship. 
But  in  1861  Congress  passed  an  act  authorizing  the 
President  to  appoint  an  Assistant  Secretary  of  War; 
and  in  1862  another  act  was  passed,  authorizing  the 
appointment  of  two  additional  Assistants.  This,  how- 
ever, wras  intended  as  a temporary  arrangement,  to  last 
only  during  the  existence  of  the  lamentable  civil  war 
which  was  at  that  time  in  progress,  and  which  necessa- 
rily greatly  increased  the  business  of  the  department. 

5.  The  Secretary  of  War  has  in  his  keeping  all  books, 
records,  and  papers,  relating  to  military  affairs.  Here 
are  to  be  found  the  names  of  all  officers  and  men  whether 
in  the  regular  army  or  in  the  volunteer  service.  Con- 
nected with  the  War  Department,  are  a number  of  sub- 


SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 


49 


departments,  or  bureaus,  as  these  sub-departments  are 
commonly  called;  among  which  are  the  Commissary,  the 
Quatermaster’s  and  Ordnance  Departments.  These 
are  all  under  the  general  supervision  and  direction  of 
the  Secretary. 

6.  In  time  of  peace  the  War  Department  attracts  no 
particular  public  notice.  But  in  time  of  war  it  draws 
around  it  more  attention  than  any  other  branch  of  the 
government;  for  on  its  good  or  bad  management  the 
weal  or  woe  of  the  nation  depends. 

Hence  the  Secretary  of  War  should  be  a man  well 
acquainted  with  military  affairs,  of  sound  judgment, 
and  of  undoubted  integrity.  In  this  department  all  ac- 
counts relating  to  military  matters  are  kept  and 
adjusted. 

In  addition  to  the  Assistant  Secretaries,  the  Pres- 
ident and  Senate  were  authorized,  in  1863,  to  appoint 
a Solicitor  in  the  War  Department.  These,  with  a 
large  clerical  force,  transact  the  business  of  this  im- 
portant branch  of  the  government. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  names  of  all  who  have 
filled  the  office  of  Secretary  of  War,  from  the  first 
down  to  the  present  incumbent,  with  the  dates  of  their 
appointment,  and  the  States  in  which  they  lived: 

SECRETARIES  OF  WAR. 

Henry  Knox,  Mass.,  Sept.12,  1789. 

Timothy  Pickering,  Pa.,  Jan.  2,  1795. 

James  McHenry,  Md.,  Jan.  27,  1796. 

James  Marshall,  Ya.,  May  7,  1800. 

Samuel  Dexter,  Mass.,  May  13,  1800. 

Roger  Griswold,  Ct.,  Feb.  3,  1801. 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Henry  Dearborn,  Mass.,  March  5, 1801. 

"William  Eustis,  Mass.,  March  7,  1809. 

John  Armstrong,  Y.  Y.,  Jan.  13,  1813. 

James  Monroe,  Ya.,  Sept.  27,  1814. 

William  H.  Crawford,  Ga.,  March  2, 1815. 

Isaac  Shelby,  Ky.,  March  5,  1817. 

G.  Graham,  Ya.,  April  7,  1817. 

John  C.  Calhoun,  S.  C.,  Oct.  8,  1817. 

James  Barbour,  Va.,  March  7,  1825. 

Peter  B.  Porter,  Y.  Y.,  May  26,  1828. 

J.  H.  Eaton,  Tenn.,  March  9,  1829. 

Lewis  Cass,  Mich.,  Aug.  1, 1831. 

Benjamin  F.  Butler,  JST.  Y.,  March  3,  1837,. 

Joel  It.  Poinsett,  S.  C.,  March  7,  1837. 

John  Bell,  Tenn.,  March  5,  1841. 

John  McLean,  O.,  Sept.  13,  1841. 

John  C,  Spencer,  Y.  Y.,  Oct.  12,  1841. 

James  M.  Porter,  Pa.,  March  8,  1843. 

William  Wilkins,  Pa.,  Feb.  15,  1844. 

William  L.  Marcy,  Y.  Y.,  March  5,  1845. 

George  W.  Crawford,  Ga.,  March  6,  1849. 

Charles  M.  Conrad,  La.,  Aug.  8,  1850. 

Jefferson  Davis,  Miss.,  March  5,  1853. 

John  B.  Floyd,  Ya.,  March  6,  1857. 

Joseph  Holt,  Ky.,  Dec.  30, 1860. 

Simon  Cameron,  Pa.,  March  5,  1861. 

Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Pa.,  Jan.  13,  1862. 

Ulysses  S.  Grant,  111.,  1868. 

J.  M.  Schofield,  1868. 

John  A.  Bawlins,  111.,  Mch.  5,  ’69.  Died  Sept.  6, ’69. 
Wm.  T.  Sherman,  Sept.  9,  1869. 

Wm.  W.  Belknap,  Oct.  25,  1869. 


SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY. 


51 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Navy  Department,  and  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

1.  The  Navy  and  the  Army  are  the  two  strong  arms 
of  the  nation.  By  these  we  preserve  order  at  home 
and  protect  ourselves  against  wrongs  abroad,  or  inva- 
sion of  our  rights  by  any  foreign  power,  whether  at  home 
or  elsewhere.  They  may  be  termed  the  belligerent 
parts  of  the  government ; and  if  we  institute  a com- 
parison between  them,  it  is  not  easy  to  determine 
which  is  the  stronger  arm,  or  which  is  the  more  effi- 
cient agent  of  national  defence. 

2.  The  Navy  Department,  like  the  War  Department, 
was  established  at  an  early  period  after  the  adoption  of 
the  Constitution.  The  office  of  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
was  created  at  the  same  time  that  the  department  it- 
self was.  He  is  appointed  by  the  President  and  Senate, 
is  one  of  the  highest  officers  of  the  Government,  one  of 
the  seven  members  of  the  Cabinet,  and  receives  a 
salary  of  $8,000  per  annum. 

As  the  President  is  Commander-in-Chief  as  well  of 
the  Navy  as  of  the  Army,  the  Secretary  of  course  acts 
under  his  direction.  It  is  made  his  duty  to  execute  the 
President’s  orders  relative  to  the  procurement  of  naval 
stores  and  materials,  and  the  construction,  armament, 
equipment  and  employment  of  vessels  of  war,  and  all 
other  matters  connected  with  the  naval  establishment. 


52  OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

3.  As  in  the  War  Department,  a head  clerk  was  for- 
merly second  in  rank  and  authority  in  this;  but  in  the 
year  1861,  by  an  act  of  Congress,  the  office  of  Assistant 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  was  created.  Its  incumbent  fills 
the  second  place,  and  acts  as  Secretary  in  the  absence 
of  that  officer. 

Formerly  there  were  five  bureaus  in  this  department, 
but  in  1862,  three  more  were  added,  making  eight,  as 
follows : 

1.  A Bureau  of  Yards  and  Docks. 

2.  A Bureau  of  Equipment  and  Recruiting. 

3.  A Bureau  of  Navigation. 

4.  A Bureau  of  Ordnance. 

5.  A Bureau  of  Construction  and  Repairs. 

6.  A Bureau  of  Steam  Engineering. 

7.  A Bureau  of  Provisions  and  Clothing. 

8.  A Bureau  of  Medicine  and  Surgery. 

The  President  and  Senate  appoint  all  the  heads  of 
these  bureaus,  and  select  them  principally  from  officers 
of  high  rank  in  the  navy.  They  are  all  appointed  for 
four  years,  and  each  receives  a salary  of  $3,500  per  an- 
num. 

4.  The  Secretary  appoints  all  the  clerks  in  each  of  these 
bureaus,  and  distributes  such  duties  to  each  as  he 
thinks  proper.  They  all  act  under  his  direction.  He 
must  annually  report  to  Congress  the  state  and  condi- 
tion of  his  department,  and  the  expenditures  of  the 
same,  specifying  the  amounts  expended  for  the  items 
of  building,  repairing,  wages  of  mechanics,  laborers, 
equipping  vessels  of  the  navy,  &c.,  &c. 


SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY. 


53 


SECRETARIES  OF  THE  NAVY. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  names  of  all  the 
Secretaries  of  the  Navy,  from  George  Cabot,  the  first, 
to  George  M.  Robeson,  the  present  incumbent: 

George  Cabot,  Mass.,  May  3,  1798. 

Benjamin  Stoddert,  Mass.,  May  21,  1798. 

Robert  Smith,  Md.,  July  15,  1801. 

J.  Crowninshield,  Mass.,  May  3,  1805. 

Paul  Hamilton,  S.  C.,  March  7,  1809. 

William  Jones,  Pa.,  Jan.  12,  1813. 

B.  W.  Crown  inshield,  Mass.,  Dec.  17,  1814. 
Smith  Thompson,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  9,  1818. 

John  Rogers,  Mass.,  Sept.  1,  1823. 

S.  L.  Southard,  N.  J.,  Sept.  16,  1823. 

John  Branch,  N.  C.,  March  9,  1829. 

Levi  Woodbury,  N.  IL,  May  23,  1831. 

Mahlon  Dickerson,  N.  J.,  June  30,  1834. 

J.  K.  Paulding,  N.  Y.,  June  20,  1830. 

G.  E.  Badger,  N.  C.,  March  5,  1841. 

Abel  P.  Upshur,  Va.,  Sept.  13,  1841. 

David  Henshaw,  Mass.,  July  24, 1843. 

T.  W.  Gilmer,  Va.,  Feb.  12,  1844. 

John  Y.  Mason,  Va.,  March  14,  1844. 

George  Bancroft,  Mass.,  March  10,  1845. 

John  Y.  Mason,  Va.,  Sept.  9,  1846. 

William  B.  Preston,  Va.,  March  7,  1849. 

Wiliam  A.  Graham,  N.  C.,  July  20,  1850. 

J.  P.  Kennedy,  Md.,  July  22,  1850. 

J.  C.  Dobbin,  N.  C.,  March  5,  1853. 

Isaac  Toucey,  Ct.,  March  6,  1857. 

Gideon  Welles,  Ct.,  March  5,  1861. 

Adolph  E.  Borie,  Pa.,  March  5,  1869. 

George  M.  Robeson,  N.  J.,  June  25,  1869. 


54 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Interior  Department,  and  Secretary  of  the 
Interior. 

1.  A little  reflection  will  enable  any  one  to  under- 
stand that  there  must  necessarily  be  a constantly  in- 
creasing amount  of  business  to  be  done  by  a govern- 
ment whose  territory  and  population  have  increased  as 
rapidly  as  they  have  done  in  the  United  States.  In 
every  department  there  has  been  an  accumulation  of 
work  to  be  done  and  of  duties  to  be  performed. 

2.  In  consequence  of  this  state  of  things,  Congress, 
in  1849,  passed  an  act  creating  a new  Executive  de- 
partment, called  “the  Department  of  the  Interior,” 
which  act  also  provided  for  the  appointment  of  a head 
to  this  new  branch  of  government,  called  the  Seci’e- 
tary  of  the  Interior.  He  is  appointed  like  all  the 
other  Secretaries,  is  one  of  the  high  officers  of  the  gov- 
ernment, is  a member  of  the  Cabinet,  and  in  compen- 
sation and  dignity  ranks  with  the  Secretaries  or  heads 
of  the  other  departments. 

3.  In  this  act  it  was  provided  that  the  Secretary  of 
the  Interior  should  perform  all  the  duties  heretofore 
devolving  on  the  Secretary  of  State  in  relation  to  the 
office  of  Commissioner  of  Patents  ; in  other  words,  the 
Bureau  of  the  Patent  Office  was  transferred  from  the 
Department  of  State  to  that  of  the  Interior. 

In  the  same  manner  the  General  Land  Office  was 
transferred  from  the  Treasury  Department  to  this. 


SECRETARY  OF  THE  INTERIOR. 


55 


The  supervisory  power  theretofore  exercised  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury  over  the  accounts  of  the 
marshals,  clerks,  and  other  officers  of  all  the  courts  of 
the  United  States,  wras  thereby  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  new  Secretary.  The  office  of  the  Commissioner  of 
Indian  Affairs,  heretofore  attached  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment, was  also  transferred  to  this ; and  the  powers 
and  duties  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  in  relation  to  In- 
dian affairs,  were  devolved  on  the  Secretary  of  the  In- 
terior. 

4.  The  Secretaries  of  War  and  of  the  Navy  were  by 
the  same  act  relieved  of  their  duties  in  regard  to  the 
Commissioner  of  Pensions,  and  those  duties  were 
thereafter  to  be  performed  by  the  Secretary  of  the  new 
department. 

The  Census  Bureau,  heretofore  attached  to  the  State 
Department,  and  the  duties  of  the  Secretary  of  State  in 
relation  thereto,  were  also  transferred  to  this  depart- 
ment. 

To  the  Secretary  was  also  given  the  supervisory 
power  over  the  lead  and  other  mines  belonging  to  the- 
United  States,  heretofore  executed  by  the  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury. 

The  powers  of  the  President  overthe  Commissioners 
of  Public  Buildings  were  also  transferred  to  him. 

5.  He  was  also  charged  with  the  control  over  the 
Board  of  Inspectors  and  Warden  of  the  Penitentiary 
of  the  District  of  Columbia. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Interior  has  the  same  power  in 
appointing  and  removing  clerks  and  other  subordin- 
ates in  his  department,  that  the  Secretaries  of  the  other 


56 


OUTLINES  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


departments  had  over  these  several  bureaus  before  they 
were  transferred  to  this  department. 

This  office  has  a seal,  which  must  be  affixed  to  the 
commissions  of  all  its  subordinate  officers. 

The  President  and  Senate  appoint  the  Assistant  Sec- 
retaries. 

From  the  foregoing  it  is  easy  to  understand  what 
branches  of  the  public  service  are  conducted  in  this 
office,  and  what  are  the  duties  of  its  Secretary. 

SECRETARIES  OF  THE  INTERIOR. 

6.  The  following  is  a list  ot  all  who  have  filled  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  the  Interior  since  the  establish* 
merit  of  the  department: 

Thomas  IP.  Ewing,  Ohio,  March  7, 1849. 

T.  M.  T.  McKennan,  Pa.,  1850. 

Alexander  II.  H.  Stuart,  Va.,  Sept.  12,  1850. 

Eobert  McClelland,  Mich.,  March  5,  1853. 

Jacob  Thompson,  Miss.,  March  6,  1857. 

Caleb  B.  Smith,  Ind.,  March  5,  1861. 

John  P.  Usher,  Ind.,  Jan.  7,  1863. 

James  Harlan,  Iowa,  1865. 

Orville  H.  Browning,  111.,  1866. 

Jacob  D.  Cox,  Ohio,  March  5, 1869. 

Columbus  Delano,  Ohio,  Hov.  1,  1870. 


POSTMASTER  GENERAL, 


57 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Post-office  Department,  and  Postmaster 
General. 

1.  The  Post-office  Department  is  one  of  the  most  im« 
portantin  the  government;  and  one  with  which  the 
people  have  more  intercourse,  and  with  which  they 
are  better  acquainted  than  any  other.  A post-office 
establishment  is  an  institution  by  which  the  govern- 
ment undertakes  to  transmit  letters  and  other  mailable 
matter  to  the  places  where  directed,  for  the  people,  in- 
stead of  leaving  them  to  do  this  business  for  them- 
selves, in  the  best  way  they  can.  It  is  by  no  means 
peculiar  to  our  government,  but  is  found  in  every  civ- 
ilized country,  and  dates  from  ancient  times. 

2.  To  find  the  basis  of  our  own  establishment,  we 
have  to  look  at  the  Constitution.  There,  in  Art.  1, 
Sec.  8,  we  shall  find  the  words,  “ Congress  shall  have 
the  power  to  establish  post-offices,  and  post  roads.” 
These  few  words  are  the  foundation  of  all  our  laws  re- 
lating to  post-offices,  post-masters,  post  roads,  transpor- 
tation of  the  mail  and  everything  else  appertaining  to 
the  subject. 

3.  Post-offices  existed  in  this  country  before  our  gov- 
ernment did  ; for  while  we  were  in  a colonial  state  un- 
der the  English  government,  it  had  established  them 
at  all  important  points,  and  also  a tolerable  mail  sys- 
tem for  that  day  and  age.  These  were  continued  dur- 


58 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


mg  the  Revolution,  which  resulted  in  the  separation  of 
this  country  from  England.  After  our  present  govern- 
ment became  established,  it  enacted  laws  and  made 
provisions  for  a Post-Office  Department 

4.  By  law  a Postmaster  General  is  placed  at  the 
head  of  this  department,  who  is  appointed  for  four 
years  by  the  President  and  Senate ; his  office  is  in  the 
General  Post  Office  at  Washington;  his  salary  is 
$8,000  a year;  he  is  a member  of  the  Cabinet,  and 
ranks  as  one  of  the  high  officers  of  State.  He  has 
three  assistants,  who  are  appointed  in  the  same  manner 
as  himself.  He  has  a seal  of  his  office,  an  impression 
from  which  must  be  affixed  to  the  commission  of 
every  postmaster  in  the.  United  States ; and  also  to  all 
transcripts  of  papers  and  documents  which  may  be 
wranted  from  his  office.  The  seal  establishes  their 
authenticity,  and  makes  them  proof  of  the  same  de- 
gree as  the  original  papers.  He  must  give  bonds  for 
the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties,  and  take  the 
usual  official  oath. 

5.  The  laws  of  the  department  make  it  his  duty  to 
appoint  all  other  postmasters  (who  are  styled  in  law, 
deputy  postmasters,  but  in  common  language,  simply 
postmasters),  whose  compensation  is  less  than  $1,000 
per  annum.  All  others  are  appointed  by  the  President 
and  Senate,  or  as  he  is  himself.  It  is  also  his  duty  to 
establish  post-offices  wherever  he  may  deem  it  neces- 
sary ; to  provide  for  the  transportation  of  the  mail  on 
all  the  post-roads  in  the  United  States,  and  to  foreign 
countries  by  sea.  He  must  give  all  deputies  their  in- 
structions respecting  their  duties,  and  receive  from  them 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 

THIRD  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


POSTMASTER  GENERAL. 


59 


their  accounts  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  their 
respective  offices;  pay  all  expenses  for  the  transmis- 
sion of  the  mails,  and  all  others  which  relate  to  the 
management  of  his  department ; and  once  in  three 
months  render  a quarterly  account  of  all  receipts  and 
expenditures  of  the  Post  Office  Department;  and 
finally  must  superintend,  control,  and  direct  all  deputy 
postmasters,  agents,  mail  contractors,  and  employees 
in  the  mail  service. 

THE  MINOR  POST-OFFICES. 

6.  The  centre  of  this  great  machine  is  at  Washington, 
the  capital  of  the  nation  ; but  its  branches  extend,  like 
the  veins  and  nerves  of  the  human  body,  in  every 
direction  and  to  every  part.  Post-offices,  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  people,  are  found  in  every  city, 
village,  town  and  neighborhood  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  land. 

POST-ROADS. 

7.  It  is  the  business  of  Congress  to  say  what  roads 
shall  be  post-roads  and  post-routes,  and  whether  the 
mails  shall  be  carried  by  land  or  by  water.  In  the 
exercise  of  this  power  it  has  declared  that  all  railroads 
shall  be  post-roads.  Post-routes  are  also  established 
between  this  country  and  foreign  countries,  by  ships. 
The  Postmaster  General  is  empowered  to  contract 
with  the  owners  of  ships  going  to  foreign  countries,  to 
carry  the  mails  to  and  from  the  places  of  their  depart- 
ure and  destination.  Thus  the  ocean  is  made  into 
numerous  mail  routes. 


60  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

RATES  OF  POSTAGE. 

8.  In  establishing  the  present  rates  of  postage,  two 
objects  were  aimed  at;  first,  to  diminish  the  cost  of 
sending  letters,  and  second,  to  make  the  rates  uniform 
to  all  parts  of  the  country,  irrespective  of  distance. 
Formerly  the  rates  were  much  higher,  and  were  made 
to  depend  on  two  circumstances;  first , the  distance 
over  which  the  letter  was  to  be  sent,  and  the  rate  varied 
from  six  to  twentj^-five  cents ; second , the  number  of 
pieces  on  which  the  letter  was  written,  counting  every 
piece  of  paper  as  a letter. 

But  by  recent  laws  this  has  all  been  changed ; any 
distance  within  the  United  States  makes  no  difference 
in  the  rate  or  charge  for  carrying;  and  instead  of 
counting  the  pieces  of  paper  used,  weight  is  made  the 
basis  of  charge.  Half  an  ounce  is  reckoned  a single 
letter,  and  every  half  ounce  more,  or  a fraction  of  it,  is 
counted  as  another.  Three  cents  is  the  rate  of  a single  let- 
ter, and  an  addition  of  three  cents  more  for  every  addi- 
tional half  ounce  or  fraction  of  it.  The  charges  for 
carrying  newspapers  and  other  printed  matter,  were 
also  greatly  reduced  from  former  rates.  Formerly, 
under  the  old  system,  postage  might  be  pre-paid,  or 
paid  upon  delivery  of  the  letter,  and  the  govern- 
ment lost  the  postage  on  all  letters  never  called  for. 
But  under  the  present  system,  all  mailable  matter, 
except  newspapers  and  regular  periodical  publications 
sent  to  subscribers,  must  be  pre-paid  by  postage  stamps. 

FRANKING  PRIVILEGE. 

9.  This  means  the  right  to  send  letters,  documents, 


POSTMASTER  GENERAL. 


61 


&c.,  through  the  post  office  free,  or  without  paying 
postage  therefor.  This  privilege  was  so  abused  that 
the  law  was  changed,  and  restricted  to  a certain  class 
of  officers  of  the  government  when  sending  or  receiv- 
ing official  communications  which  relate  to  the  busi- 
ness of  their  respective  offices,  and  to  the  President, 
Vice  President,  Members  of  Congress,  and  chiefs  of 
the  several  Executive  departments.  Petitions  to  Con- 
gress may  also  be  franked. 

DEAD  LETTERS. 

10.  Dead  letters  are  those  which  are  never  called  for 
at  the  respective  offices  where  sent.  The  law  directs 
that  they  shall  be  advertised  three  weeks  in  some  news- 
paper in  or  near  the  post  office  where  the  letter  is  ; and 
if  not  called  for  in  three  months  thereafter,  they  must 
be  sent  to  the  General  Post  Office  at  Washington*  as 
dead  letters.  There  they  are  opened,  and  if  they  con- 
tain money  or  valuable  papers,  they  are  returned  to 
the  writers,  and  the  money  and  papers  are  kept  at  the 
General  Post  Office,  where  an  account  of  them  is  kept, 
and  will  be  returned  to  the  owners  whenever  they  call 
for  them. 

POSTAL  MONEY  ORDER  SYSTEM. 

This  department  was  established  by  Act  of  Con- 
gress, May  17,  and  went  into  operation  November  1, 
1864.  To  insure  greater  security  in  the  transfer  of 
small  sums  of  money  through  the  mails,  orders  are  is- 
sued for  any  amount  up  to  fifty  dollars,  and  three  orders 


62 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


only  can  be  obtained  in  one  day,  payable  to  the  same 
person. 

The  list  of  offices  embraces  some  fourteen  hundred ; 
and  millions  of  dollars  are  annually  remitted  in  small 
amounts  to  all  parts  of  the  country  in  perfect  safety.' 

The  rates  of  commission  on  money  orders  are, 

On  Orders  not  exceeding  $20,  - - 10  cents. 

Over  $20,  and  not  exceeding  $30,  - - 15  cents. 

“ $30,  “ “ “ $40,  - - 20  cents. 

“ $40,  “ “ “ $50,  - - 25  cents. 

"When  a money  order  has  been  lost  or  destroyed,  a 
duplicate  can  be  applied  for  by  the  remitter  or  payee, 
at  either  the  issuing  office  or  the  office  of  payment. 

An  international  money  order  system,  between  the 
United  States  and  Switzerland  went  into  operation 
September  1st,  1869,  whereby  the  exchange  of  Postal 
orders  between  the  two  countries  is  effected  through 
the  agency  of  two  Post  Offices  termed  International 
Exchange  Offices.  The  Office  of  Hew  York  City  being 
set  apart  for  the  United  States,  and  that  of  Basel,  in 
Switzerland  for  that  country.  The  amount  drawn  for 
cannot  exceed  fifty  dollars  in  one  order,  three  orders 
only  can  be  obtained  by  the  same  person  in  one  day. 
The  system  works  satisfactory,  and  will  no  doubt  be 
extended  to  Great  Britain,  and  perhaps  other  European 
Nations  at  an  early  day. 

Without  wearying  the  reader  with  a detailed  state- 
ment of  the  condition  of  the  department  for  every  year 
since  its  establishment,  we  give  the  number  of  offices, 
and  the  number  of  miles  of  post-roads  as  they  were 
every  tenth  year. 


POSTMASTER  GENERAL.  63 

& 

In  1790  there  were  but  75  post  offices,  and  1,875  m.  of  post-roads. 


1800 

U 

903 

a 

20,817 

U 

1810 

u 

2,300 

u 

36,400 

a 

1820 

a 

4,500 

tc 

72,492 

a 

1830 

u 

8,450 

u 

115,176 

a 

1840 

u 

13,463 

u 

155,739 

a 

1850 

a 

18,417 

u 

178,672 

a 

1860 

u 

28,498 

it 

240,594 

a 

1870 

a 

28,492  “ 231,232 

POSTMASTERS  GENERAL. 

u 

Samuel  Osgood,  Mass.,  Sept.  26,  1789. 
Timothy  Pickering,  Mass.,  Aug.  12,  1791. 
Joseph  Habersham,  Ga.,  Feb.  25,  1795. 
Gideon  Granger,  Ct.,  Nov.  28,  1801. 

Return  J.  Meigs,  O.,  March  17,  1814. 

John  McLean,  0.,  June  25,  1823. 

William  T.  Barry,  Ky.,  March  9,  1829. 

Amos  Kendall,  Ky.,  March  1,  1835. 

John  M.  Niles,  Ct.,  May  18,  1840. 

Francis  Granger,  N.  Y.,  March  6,  1841. 
Charles  A.  Wickliff,  Ky.,  Sept.  13, 1841. 
Cave  Johnson,  Tenn.,  March  5,  1845. 

Jacob  Collamer,  Vt,,  March  7,  1849. 

Nathan  K.  Hall,  N.  Y.,  July  20,  1850. 

S.  D.  Hubbard,  Ct.T  Aug.  3i,  1852. 

James  Campbell,  Pa*,  March  5,  1853. 

Aaron  V.  Brown,  Tenn.,  March  6,  1857* 
Joseph  Holt,  Ky.,  March  14, 1859. 

Horatio  King,  Jan.  1,  1861. 

Montgomery  Blair,  Md.,  March  7,  1861. 
William  Dennison,  O.,  Oct.  1,  1864. 
Alexander  W.  Randall,  Wis.,  July  15,  1866. 
J.  A.  J.  Cresswell,  Md.,  March  5,  1869. 


5 


64 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Attorney  General. 

The  Attorney  General  of  the  United  States  is  one  of 
the  high  officers  of  the  government,  and  is  a very  re- 
sponsible one.  The  law  by  which  the  office  of  Attor- 
ney General  was  created  we  find  in  an  act  passed  as 
far  back  as  1789,  at  the  first  session  ever  held  by  Con- 
gress; in  which  his  duties  are  thus  defined:  “Whose 

duty  it  shall  be  to  prosecute  and  conduct  all  suits  in 
the  Supreme  Court,  in  which  the  United  States  shall 
be  concerned;  and  to  give  his  advice  and  opinion  upon 
questions  of  law,  when  required  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States ; or  when  requested  by  the  heads  of  de- 
partments, touching  any  matters  that  may  concern 
their  departments.” 

By  an  act  passed  in  1861,  he  is  charged  with  the 
general  superintendence  of  all  the  Attorneys  and  Mar- 
shals in  all  the  Judicial  Districts  in  the  United  States 
and  Territories,  as  to  the  manner  of  discharging  their 
duties. 

He  is  appointed  by  the  President  and  Senate,  and 
holds  his  office  at  the  pleasure  of  the  President. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Cabinet,  and  now  receives  a 
salary  of  eight  thousand  dollars  per  year.  He  has  an 
assistant,  and  clerks  to  aid  him  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties. 

His  office  is  in  Washington. 

This,  with  the  preceding  six  chapters,  contains  a 
brief  account  of  what  are  properly  called  Executive  De- 


ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 


65 


partments  of  the  government;  sub-departments  are 
properly  termed  Bureaus,  while  the  three  great  divis- 
ions into  which  the  Constitution  divides  the  govern- 
mental powers,  viz.:  the  Legislative,  Executive,  and 
Judicial,  should  be  denominated  branches. 

ATTORNEYS-GENERAL. 

Edmund  Randolph,  Va.,  Sept.  26,  1789. 
William  Bradford,  Pa.,  June  27,  1794. 

Charles  Lee,  Va.,  Dec.  10,  1795. 

T.  Parsons,  Mass.,  Feb.  20,  1800. 

Levi  Lincoln,  Mass.,  March  5,  1801. 

Robert  Smith,  Md.,  March  2,  1805. 

John  Breckenridge,  Ky.,  Dec.  1806. 

Csesar  A.  Rodney,  Del.,  Jan.  20,  1807. 

William  Pinckney,  Md.,  Dec.  11,  1811. 

Richard  Rush,  Pa.,  Feb.  10,  1814. 

William  Wirt,  Md.,  Dec.  16,  1817. 

John  McPherson  Berrien,  Ga.,  Mar.  9,  1829. 
Roger  B.  Taney,  Md.,  July  20,  1831. 

Benjamin  F.  Butler,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  15,  1833. 
Felix  Grundy,  Tenn.,  July  7,  1838. 

Henry  D.  Gilpin,  Pa.,  Jan.  11,  1840. 

John  J.  Crittenden,  Ky.,  Mar.  5,  1841. 

Hugh  S.  Legare,  S.  C.,  Sept.  13,  1841. 

John  Nelson,  Md.,  July  1,  1843. 

John  Y.  Mason,  Va.,  Mar  5,  1845. 

Nathan  Clifford,  Me.,  Oct.  16,  1846. 

Isaac  Toucey,  Ct.,  Jan.  21,  1848. 

Reverdy  Johnson,  Md.,  Mar.  7,  1849. 

John  J.  Crittenden,  Ky.,  July  20,  1850. 

Caleb  Cushing,  Mass.,  Mar.  5,  1853. 

Jeremiah  S.  Black,  Pa.,  Mar.  6,  1857. 

Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Pa.,  Dec.  14,  1860. 

Edward  Bates,  Mo.,  Mar.  5,  1861. 

James  Speed,  Ky.,  Dec.,  1864. 

Henry  Stanberry,  O.,  July,  1866. 

William  M.  Evarts,  N.  Y.,  1868. 

Eben  E.  Hoar,  March  5,  1869. 

Amos  T.  Akerman,  Ga.,  July  8, 1870. 


66 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XHI. 

The  Cabinet. 

1.  The  Cabinet  is  composed  of  the  Secretaries  of 
State,  War,  Navy,  Treasury,  and  Interior,  together 
with  the  Postmaster  General  and  the  Attorney  Gene- 
ral, seven  in  all.  They  are  ex-officio  members  of  the 
Cabinet,  and  the  President’s  advisers.  All  of  them  are 
nominated  to  their  respective  offices,  as  Secretaries,  &c., 
by  him  ; but  cannot  act  unless  by  the  consent  of  the 
Senate.  In  this  respect  they  are  like  all  other  officers 
appointed  by  the  President  and  Senate,  although  in 
common  parlance  it  is  often  said  the  President  chooses 
his  own  Cabinet.  This  might  seem  to  mean  that  he, 
and  he  alone  chooses  them,  without  advice  or  consul- 
tation with  any  body. 

2.  The  Senate  rarely,  if  ever,  refuses  consent  to  the 
nominations  of  the  President  for  these  appointments  ; 
for  it  is  conceded  that  without  some  extraordinary  ob- 
jection, such  as  notorious  bad  character  or  unfitness  for 
the  position,  the  President  should  have  the  selection 
of  his  own  advisers. 

3.  When  they  meet  with  the  President  to  consult 
with  him  on  the  affairs  and  administration  of  the  gov- 
ernment, it  is  called  “ a Cabinet  meeting.”  Our  for- 
eign affairs  and  relations  with  other  governments  form 
the  subjects  of  much  of  their  deliberations ; in  England, 
and  in  most  of  the  countries  in  Europe,  the  men  who 


THE  CABINET. 


67 


fill  these  positions  in  those  governments,  are  called 
Ministers.  In  England,  Cabinet  officers  are  required  to 
be  members  of  Parliament;  but  in  the  United  States, 
members  of  the  Cabinet  neither  have  seats  in  Congress, 
nor  take  any  part  in  its  proceedings.  As  Secretaries, 
and  heads  of  their  respective  departments,  they  annu- 
ally report  to  Congress  what  has  been  done  in,  and 
what  is  the  state  and  condition  of  their  departments. 
They  also  suggest  or  recommend  to  Congress  such  leg- 
islation as  in  their  judgment  is  required  for  that  branch 
of  the  government  under  their  supervision. 

4.  It  is  therefore  easily  understood  that  the  Cabinet 
is  not  a body  of  officials  chosen  as  the  advisers  of  the 
President;  and  that  that  is  their  only  duty.  Not  so  ; 
their  membership  in  the  Cabinet  only  grows  out  of  the 
offices  or  places  they  hold  in  the  government.  The 
moment  any  one  ceases  to  hold  that  office,  that  mo- 
ment he  ceases  to  be  a member  of  the  Cabinet. 

5.  To  the  foregoing  we  will  add  a little  of  the  history 
of  the  Cabinet.  Under  Washington’s  administration  it 
consisted  of  but  three  members,  viz. : the  Secretary  of 
State,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  the  Secretary 
of  War.  There  was  no  Secretary  of  the  Navy  during 
his  administration.  The  department  of  the  Navy  was 
not  established  until  1798,  when  John  Adams  was 
President.  Under  his  administration  it  consisted  of 
four  members,  for  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  was  ad- 
ded, and  so  it  continued  down  to  Jackson’s  adminis- 
tration (1829 — 1837,)  when  the  Postmaster  General 
was  made  a member;  so  that  it  consisted  of  five  mem- 


68 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


bers.  It  stood  at  that  number  until  John  Tyler  be- 
came the  acting  President,  from  the  death  of  President 
Harrison,  1841 — 1845,  when  the  Attorney  General  was 
made  a member ; and  in  1849,  on  the  third  of  March, 
the  last  day  of  Mr.  Polk’s  administration,  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Interior  was  established,  and  the  office  of 
“Secretary  of  the  Interior”  was  created,  and  he  also 
was  made  a member  of  the  Cabinet.  Under  President 
Taylor’s  administration,  which  commenced  on  the 
fourth  of  March,  1849,  and  since,  the  number  of  Cab- 
inet officers  has  been  seven.  "Whether  it  has  reached 
its  maximum  or  not,  depends  on  what  Congress  may 
do  hereafter  in  creating  other  great  departments  of 
government.  If  they  do  so,  their  heads,  or  Secretaries 
will  probably  be  added  to  the  Cabinet. 

6.  As  a piece  of  historical  information,  and  for  the 
convenience  of  ready  reference,  we  here  insert  the 
names  of  those  who  have  been  members  of  the  Cabi- 
net, under  all  the  administrations,  from  Washington’s 
(the  first),  down  to  the  present  year  (1871);  and  for 
the  purpose  of  showing  who  was  the  Vice  President 
with  each  President,  we  insert  his  name  also,  although 
he  is  never  a member  of  the  Cabinet.  By  this  it  will 
be  seen  that  several  persons  occupied  the  same  posi- 
tions under  the  same  administrations  ; and  that  upon 
every  change  of  the  heads  of  departments,  the  Cabinet 
was  changed. 


THE  CABINET. 


C9 


FIRST  ADMINISTRATION,  FROM  1789  TO  1797 — 8 YEARS. 

George  Washington,  Va.,  President. 

John  Adams,  Mass.,  Vice  President. 

CABINET. 

Thomas  Jefferson,  Va.,  Secretary  of  State. 

Edmund  Randolph,  Va.,  44  u 

Timothy  Pickering,  Mass.,  “ 44 

Alexander  Hamilton,  1ST.  Y.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
Oliver  Wolcott,  Conn.  44  “ 44 

Timothy  Pickering,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  War. 

James  McHenry,  Md.,  44  44  44 

Henry  Knox,  Mass.,  44  44  44 


SECOND  ADMINISTRATION,  1797  TO  1801—4  YEARS. 

John  Adams,  Mass.,  President. 

Thomas  Jefferson,  Va.,  Vice  President. 

CABINET. 

Timothy  Pickering,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  State. 

John  Marshall,  Va.,  44  44  44 

Oliver  Wolcott,  Ct.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
Samuel  Dexter,  Mass.,  44  44  -4 

James  McHenry,  Md.,  Secretary  of  War. 

Samuel  Dexter,  Mass.,  44  44 

Roger  Griswold,  44  44 

George  Cabot,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
Benjamin  Stoddert,  Md.,  44  44 

THIRD  ADMINISTRATION,  1801  TO  1809 — 8 YEARS. 

Thomas  Jefferson,  Va.,  President. 

Aaron  Burr,  H.  Y.,  Vice  President. 

George  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  44 

CABINET. 

James  Madison,  Va.,  Secretary  of  State. 

Samuel  Dexter,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
Albert  Gallatin,  Pa.,  44  44  “ 


70 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Henry  Dearborn,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  War. 
Benjamin  Stoddert,  Md.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
Robert  Smith,  Md.,  “ “ “ 

FOURTH  ADMINISTRATION,  1809  TO  1817 — 8 YEARS. 

James  Madison,  Va.,  President. 

George  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  Vice  President. 
Elbridge  Gerry,  Mass.,  “ 


CABINET. 


Robert  Smith,  Md.,  Secretary  of  State. 

James  Monroe,  Va.,  “ “ 

Albert  Gallatin,  Pa.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
George  "W.  Campbell,  Tenn.,  “ “ 

Alexander  J.  Dallas,  Pa.,  “ “ 

William  Eustis,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  War. 

John  Armstrong,  N.  Y., 

James  Monroe,  Va., 

William  H.  Crawford,  Ga. 

Paul  Hamilton,  S.  C.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
William  Jones,  Pa.,  “ “ “ 

B.  W.  Crowninshield,  Mass.,  “ “ 


a 

a 


FIFTH  ADMINISTRATION,  1817  TO  1825 — 8 YEARS. 

James  Monroe,  Va.,  President. 

Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  N.  Y.,  Vice  President. 

CABINET. 

John  Q.  Adams,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  State. 

William  H.  Crawford,  Ga.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
Esaac  Shelby,  Ky.,  Secretary  of  War. 

John  C.  Calhoun,  S.  C.,  “ “ 

B.  W.  Crowninshield,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
Smith  Thompson,  N.  Y.,  “ “ 

Samuel  L.  Southard,  N.  J.,  “ “ 


THE  CABINET. 


71 


SIXTH  ADMINISTRATION,  1825  TO  1829 — 4 YEARS. 

John  Q.  Adams,  Mass.,  President. 

John  C.  Calhoun,  S.  C.,  Vice  President. 

CABINET. 

Henry  Clay,  Ky.,  Secretary  of  State. 

Richard  Rush,  Pa.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 

James  Barbour,  Va.,  Secretary  of  War. 

Peter  B.  Porter,  N.  Y.,  “ “ 

Samuel  L.  Southard,  N.  J.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

SEVENTH  ADMINISTRATION,  1829  TO  1837 — 8 YEARS. 

Andrew  Jackson,  Tenn.,  President. 

John  C.  Calhoun,  S.  C.,  Vice  President. 

Martin  Van  Buren,  N.  Y.,  u 

CABINET. 


Martin  Yan  Buren,  N.  Y.,  Secretary  of  State. 

Edward  Livingston,  La.,  “ “ 

Louis  McLane,  Del.,  “ “ 

John  Forsyth,  Geo.  “ “ 

Samuel  D.  Ingham,  Pa,,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
Louis  McLane,  Del.,  “ “ “ 

William  J.  Duane,  Pa.,  “ “ u 

Roger  B.  Taney,  Md.  “ u “ 

Levi  Woodbury,  N.  H.  u u u 

John  II.  Eaton,  Tenn.,  Secretary  of  War. 

Lewis  Cass,  Mich.  “ u 

Benjamin  F.  Butler,  H.  Y.,  “ “ 

John  Branch,  JST.  C.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Levi  Woodbury,  N.  II.,  “ - u « 

Mahlon  Dickerson,  N.  J.,  “ u u 

Postmasters  General , and  for  the  first  time  considered 
members  of  the  Cabinet. 


John  McLean,  O. 
William  F.  Barry,  Ky. 
Amos  Kendall,  Ky. 


72 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


EIGHTH  ADMINISTRATION,  1837  TO  1841 — 4 YEARS. 

Martin  Van  Buren,  N.  Y.,  President. 

Richard  M.  Johnson,  Ky.,  Vice  President. 

CABINET. 

John  Forsyth,  Geo.,  Secretary  of  State. 

Levi  Woodbury,  X.  H.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
Joel  R.  Poinsett,  S.  C.,  Secretary  of  War. 

Mahlon  Dickerson,  N.  J.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
James  K.  Paulding,  N.  Y.,  “ “ “ 

Amos  Kendall,  Ky.,  Postmaster  General. 

John  M.  Niles,  Ct.,  “ “ 

NINTH  ADMINISTRATION,  MARCH  4,  1841,  TO  APRIL  4,  1841, 

William  Henry  Harrison,  0.,  President. 

John  Tyler,  Va.,  Vice  President. 

CABINET. 

Daniel  Webster,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  State. 

Thomas  Ewing,  0.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 

John  Bell,  Tenn.,  Secretary  of  War. 

George  E.  Badger,  N.  C.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
Gideon  Granger,  N.  Y.,  Postmaster  General. 


TENTH  ADMINISTRATION,  APRIL  6,  1841,  TO  MARCH  4, 

1845. 


John  Tyler,  Va.,  (acting)  President,  by  death  of 
Harrison. 


CABINET. 


Daniel  Webster,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  State. 
Abel  P.  Upshur,  Va.,  “ “ 

John  0.  Calhoun,  S.  C.,  “ “ 

Thomas  Ewing,  O.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
Wal  t er  F or  ward , Pa . , “ “ “ 

John  C.  Spencer,  N.  Y,  “ “ “ 

George  M.  Bibb,  Ky.,  “ “ 

John  Bell,  Tenn.,  Secretary  of  War. 

John  C.  Spencer,  N.  Y.,  “ “ 

James  M.  Porter,  Pa.,  “ “ 

William  Wilkins.  Pa.,  “ “ 


JAMES  MADISON. 

FOURTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE  CABINET. 


73 


u 

<( 


George  E.  Badger,  N.  C.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Abel  P.  Upshur,  Ya.,  “ “ “ 

David  Henshaw,  Mass.,  “ “ 

G.  W.  Gilmer,  Ya.,  “ “ 

John  Y.  Mason,  Ya.,  “ “ 

Hugh  S.  Legare,  S.  C.,  Attorney-General. 

John  Nelson,  Md.,  “ “ 

Francis  G.  Granger,  N.  Y.,  Postmaster  General. 
Charles  A.  Wickliffe,  Ky.,  “ “ 

ELEVENTH  ADMINISTRATION — MARCH  4,  1845,  TO 
MARCH  4,  1849 — 4 YEARS. 

James  K.  Polk,  Tenn.,  President. 

George  M.  Dallas,  Pa.,  Yice  President. 

CABINET. 

James  Buchanan,  Pa.,  Secretary  of  State. 

Robert  J.  Walker,  Miss.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
"William  L.  Marcy,  N.  Y.,  Secretary  of  War. 
George  Bancroft,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
John  Y.  Mason,  Ya.,  “ “ “ 

Cave  Johnson,  Tenn.,  Postmaster  General. 

John  Y.  Mason,  Ya.,  Attorney  General. 

Nathan  Clifford,  Me.,  “ “ 

Isaac  Toucey,  Ct.,  “ “ 

TWELFTH  ADMINISTRATION — MARCH  4,  1849,  TO  JULY 
10,  1850 — 1 YEAR  AND  4 MONTHS. 

Zachary  Taylor,  La.,  President. 

Millard  Fillmore,  N.  Y.,  Yice  President. 

CABINET. 

John  M.  Clayton,  Del.,  Secretary  of  State. 

George  W.  Crawford,  Geo.,  Secretary  of  War. 
William  M.  Meredith,  Pa.,  Sec.  of  the  Treasury. 
William  B.  Preston,  Ya.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
Thomas  Ewing,  Ohio,  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 
Jacob  Collamer,  Yt.,  Postmaster  General. 

Reverdy  Johnson,  Md.,  Attorney  General. 


74  OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

THIRTEENTH  ADMINISTRATION,  JULY  10,  1850,  TO  MARCH 
4,  1853 — 2 YEARS  AND  8 MONTHS. 

Millard  Fillmore,  (acting)  President,  by  death  of  Tay- 
lor— no  Vice  President. 

CABINET. 

Daniel  Webster,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  State. 

Thomas  Corwin,  Ohio,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
Charles  M.  Conrad,  La.,  Secretary  of  War. 

Wm.  A.  Graham,  N.  C.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 
Alex.  H.  H.  Stuart,  Va.  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 
Nathan  K.  Hall,  N.  Y.,  Postmaster  General. 

John  J.  Crittenden,  Ky.,  Attorney  General. 

POURTEENTH  ADMINISTRATION,  MARCH  4,  1853,  TO 
MARCH  4,  1857. 

Franklin  Pierce,  N.  H.,  President. 

Wm.  R.  King,  of  Ala.,  who  was  elected  Yice  Pres- 
ident with  Mr.  Pierce,  but  died  before  he  took  his 
seat ; and  there  was  no  Yice  President  during  Pierce’s 
administration. 

CABINET. 

William  L.  Marcy,  N.  Y.,  Secretary  of  State. 

James  Guthrie,  Ky.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
Jefferson  Davis,  Miss.,  Secretary  of  War. 

J.  C.  Dobbin,  N.  C.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Robert  McClelland,  Mich.,  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 
James  Campbell,  Pa.,  Postmaster  General. 

Caleb  Cushing,  Mass.,  Attorney  General. 

FIFTEENTH  ADMINISTRATION — MARCH  4,  1857,  TO 
MARCH  4,  1861. 

James  Buchanan,  Pa.,  President. 

John  C.  Breckenridge,  Yice  President. 


THE  CABINET. 


75 


CABINET. 

Lewis  Cass,  Mich.,  and  Jeremiah  S.  Black,  Pa.,  Sec- 
retaries of  State. 

Howell  Cobh,  Ga.,  Philip  F.  Thomas,  and  John  A. 
Dix,  N.  Y.,  Secretaries  of  the  Treasury. 

John  B.  Floyd,  Va.,  and  Joseph  Holt,  Ky.,  Secreta- 
ries of  War. 

, Isaac  Toucey,  Ct.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Jacob  Thompson,  Miss.,  Secretary  of  the  Interior, 

Aaron  Y.  Brown,  Tenn.,  Joseph  Holt,  Ky.,  and  Ho- 
ratio King,  Postmasters  General. 

Jeremiah  S.  Black,  Pa.,  and  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Pa., 
Attorneys  General. 


SIXTEENTH  ADMINISTRATION,  MARCH  4,  1861,  TO  APRIL  14, 
1865 — 4 YEARS,  1 MONTH,  & 10  DAYS. 

Abraham  Lincoln,  111.,  President. 

Hannibal  Hamlin,  Me.,  Yice-President,  first  term, 
and  Andrew  Johnson,  Tenn.,  Vice-President,  second 
term. 

CABINET. 

William  H.  Seward,  N.  Y.,  Secretary  of  State. 

Salmon  P.  Chase,  Ohio,  Wm.  P.  Fessenden,  Me., 
Hugh  McCulloch,  Ind.,  Secretaries  of  the  Treasury. 

Simon  Cameron,  Pa.,  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Pa.,  Sec- 
retaries of  War. 

Gideon  Welles,  Conn.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

John  P.  Usher,  Ind.,  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 

Montgomery  Blair,  Md.,  William  Dennison,  O., 
Postmasters  General. 

Edward  Bates,  Mo.,  James  Speed,  Ky.,  Attorneys 
General. 


76 


OUTLINES  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


SEVENTEENTH  ADMINISTRATION,  APRIL  15,  1865,  TO  MARCH 

4,  1869. 

Andrew  Johnson,  acting  President. 

No  Yice  President. 

CABINET. 

‘William  H.  Seward,  N.  Y.,  Secretary  of  State. 
Hugh  McCulloch,  Ind.,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Pa.,  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  111.,  and 
J.  M.  Schofield,  Secretaries  of  War. 

Gideon  Wells,  Conn.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

James  Harlan,  Iowa,  Orville  H.  Browning,  111.,  Sec- 
retaries of  the  Interior. 

James  Speed,  Ky.,  Henry  Stanberry,  Ohio,  Wm.  M. 
Evarts,  N.  Y.,  Attorneys  General. 

William  Dennison,  Ohio,  Alexander  W.  Randall, 
Wis.,  Postmasters  General. 

EIGHTEENTH  ADMINISTRATION,  MARCH  4,  1869. 
Ulysses  S.  Grant,  111.,  President. 

Schuyler  Colfax,  Ind.,  Vice-President. 

CABINET. 

Elihu  B.  Washhurne,  111.,  Secretary  of  State. 
Hamilton  Fish,  N.  Y., 

George  S.  Boutwell,  Mass.,  Secretary  of  Treasury. 
John  A.  Rawlins,  Secretary  of  War. 

Wm.  T.  Sherman,  “ “ 

Wm.  W.  Belknap,  “ “ 

Adolph  E.  Borie,  Pa.,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Geo.  M.  Robeson,  N.  J.,  “ “ 

Jacob  D.  Cox,  Ohio,  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 
Columbus  Delano,  0.,  “ “ 

J.  A.  J.  Cresswell,  Md.,  Postmaster  General. 

Eben  Rockwood  Hoar,  Mass.,  Attorney  General. 
Amos  T.  Akerman,  Ga.,  “ 


UNITED  STATES  COURTS. 


77 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

United  States  Courts. 

1.  Under  this  caption  we  need  make  but  a few  gen- 
eral remarks;  for,  under  the  appropriate  titles  of  the  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  courts,  we  have  treated  of  each,  with 
considerable  detail.  The  legal  tribunals  created  by 
acts  of  Congress,  and  consequently  called  United  States 
Courts,  are  known  by  the  names  of  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court,  the  Circuit  Courts,  the  District  Courts, 
and  the  Court  of  Claims.  To  these  must  be  added  the 
local  courts  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  the  Terri- 
torial Courts.  The  former  are  permanent  institutions, 
as  much  so  as  the  Circuit  or  District  Courts.  But  the 
latter  are  temporary;  designed  to  last  only  during  the 
time  the  Territorial  government  lasts;  for  when  the 
Territory  is  admitted  as  a State,  its  former  government 
ceases  to  exist;  and  as  the  courts  are  a part  of  the  gov- 
ernment, they  also  pass  away,  and  State  courts  are  cre- 
ated in  their  places. 

2.  These  brief  remarks  are  merely  introductory  to 
the  four  following  chapters,  in  which  the  reader  will 
find  a fuller  account  of  the  United  States  courts  ; and 
we  hope  a better  understanding  of  that  branch  of  the 
government  denominated  the  Judiciary. 


78 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

1.  We  have  before  stated  that  the  government  of  the  i 
United  States  was  divided  into  three  branches  or 
great  departments,  the  Legislative,  the  Executive  and 
the  Judiciary.  The  two  former  we  have  already  de- 
scribed. We  come  now  to  the  third,  which  although 
the  last,  is  by  no  means  the  least  part  of  the  great  ma- 
chine by  which  the  people  are  governed,  and  their 
rights  protected.  When  our  government  is  spoken 
of,  in  a figurative  sense,  as  an  “ arch,”  the  Judicial 
Department  is  very  appropriately  styled,  “the  key 
stone  of  the  arch;”  for  as  the  arch  would  fall  without 
the  key  stone,  so  would  our  form  of  government 
fall  without  the  Judicial  branch  ; for  in  all  cases  of  dis- 
pute or  disagreement  as  to  whatthe  Constitution  means, 
or  how  the  laws  should  be  construed  and  interpreted, 
we  look  to  the  Judicial  decisions  for  the  settlement 
of  all  such  questions. 

2.  And  especially  do  we  look  to  the  decisions  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  ; for  it  is  the  high- 
est tribunal  in  the  nation.  Its  decisions  are  final,  for 
there  is  no  superior  tribunal  to  which  questions  or 
causes  can  be  taken  ; and  when  it  has,  in  due  form,  de- 
clared how  the  Constitution  must  be  understood,  or 
how  the  laws  should  be  interpreted  and  applied,  this 
decision  settles  the  matter  and  becomes  the  law  of  the 
land,  as  to  the  questions  involved  in  the  decision. 


SUPREME  COURT. 


3.  This  court  at  the  present  time  has  one  Chief  Jus- 
tice and  nine  Associate  Justices;  all  appointed  by  the 
President,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Sen- 
ate. They  are  appointed  for  life,  or  during  good  behav- 
ior; they  may,  however,  be  impeached  for  bribery  or 
other  high  crimes,  and  then  removed  from  office.  They 
may  also  resign ; for  there  is  no  power  which  can  compel 
■any  man  to  hold  office ; but  if  they  conduct  themselves 
properly  and  choose  to  retain  their  offices,  there  is  no 
power  by  which  they  can  be  removed,  except  the  power 
of  death.  The  Constitution  itself  makes  this  provi- 
sion, in  order  that  the  judges  may  be  removed  as  far  as 
possible  from  the  influence  of  party  politics.  They 
have  nothing  to  fear  from  the  success  or  defeat  of  any 
political  party.  It  is  therefore  expected  that  their  de- 
cisions will  not  be  biased  by  party  or  political  consider- 
ations ; and  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  say  that  the  provis- 
ion for  keeping  the  judges  of  the  United  States  Courts 
in  office  for  life,  meets  with  almost  universal  approba- 
tion; and  has  caused  many  to  hope  that  the  States 
would  alter  their  Constitutions  and  adopt  the  same 
plan  ; believing  it  to  be  the  surest  wTay  of  preserving  a 
pure  and  independent  Judiciary,  on  which  depend  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  every  citizen  of  the  common- 
wealth. 

4.  This  court  holds  but  one  term  in  a year,  which 
commences  on  the  first  Monday  of  December,  and  sits 
until  it  has  disposed  of  the  business  before  it.  Its  ses- 
sions are  always  held  at  "Washington,  the  capital  of  the 
nation ; there  it  has  access  to  the  Congressional  and 
Law  Libraries,  and  to  all  the  departments  and  records 
of  the  government  when  necessary. 

6 


80 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


There  is  a class  of  causes  which  may  be  commenced 
in  this  court.  In  these  cases  it  has  original  jurisdic- 
tion. They  are  such  as  affect  ambassadors,  other  pub- 
lic ministers,  and  consuls;  and  those  in  which  a State 
shall  be  a party.  In  other  cases  it  has  only  appellate  ju- 
risdiction. The  greater  part  of  its  business  is  to  hear 
and  determine  appeals  from  inferior  courts,  mainly 
from  the  United  States  Circuit  Courts  ; and  in  some 
instances  from  the  highest  State  courts. 

5.  It  has  not  only  original,  but  exclusive  jurisdiction 
in  causes  where  a State  is  a party,  and  when  proceed- 
ings or  suits  against  ambassadors,  or  other  public  min- 
isters or  their  servants,  are  instituted.  Its  power  to  try 
appeals  from  lower  courts,  called  its  appellate  jurisdic- 
tion, gives  it  the  position  of  the  highest  court  in  the 
nation. 

It  has  power  also  to  restrain  or  to  prohibit  proceed- 
ings in  the  United  States  District  Courts,  when  acting 
as  courts  of  Admiralty  ; or  in  cases  of  maritime  juris- 
diction. The  judges  of  this  court  hold  the  Circuit 
Courts,  and  allot  themselves  among  the  judicial  cir- 
cuits. The  Chief  Justice  receives  $6,500  per  year  sal- 
ary, and  the  Associate  Justices  each  $6,000. 

The  practice  and  rules  of  procedure  in  this  court 
are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Courts  of  Chancery 
and  King’s  Bench,  in  England.  Issues  of  fact  are  tried 
by  jury,  the  same  as  in  other  courts. 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  COURT. 

6.  The  officers  of  this  tribunal  are  the  Judges,  the 
Attorney  General,  a clerk,  a crier,  and  a reporter.  The 
three  last  named  are  appointed  by  the  court.  It  is  the 


SUPREME  COURT.  81 

duty  of  the  Marshal  of  the  District  of  Columbia  to  at- 
tend this  court,  and  to  serve  process  issuing  from  it. 

An  Attorn ey  or  Counselior-at-Law,  to  be  admitted 
to  practice  in  this  court,  must  have  been  a practitioner 
in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  where  he  lives. 

7.  The  following  are  the  names  of  all  the  Chief  Jus- 
tices of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  from 
its  establishment  to  the  present  time;  with  the  dates  of 
their  appointments,  and  the  States  from  which  they 
were  appointed : 

John  Jay,  U.  Y.,  Sept.  26,  1789. 

John  Rutledge,  S.  C.,  July  1,  1795. 

"William  Cushing,  Mass.,  Jan.  27,  1796. 

Oliver  Ellsworth,  Ct.,  March  4,  1796. 

John  Jay,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  19, 1800. 

John  Marshal],  Ya.,  Jan.  27,  1801. 

Roger  B.  Taney,  Md.,  Dec.  28,  1835. 

Salmon  P.  Chase,  0. 

8.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  Associate  Jus- 
tices, with  the  dates  of  their  appointment  and  the  States 
from  which  they  were  appointed: 

John  Rutledge,  S.  C.,  1789. 

William  Cushing,  Mass.,  1789. 

Robert  H.  Harrison,  Md.,  1789. 

James  Wilson,  Pa.,  1789. 

John  Blair,  Ya.,  1789. 

James  Iredell,  Y.  C.,  1790. 

Thomas  Johnson,  Md.,  1791. 

Wilfiam  Paterson,  Y.  J.,  1793. 

Samuel  Chase,  Mel.,  1796. 

Bushrod  Washington,  Ya.,  1798. 

Alfred  Moore,  N.  C.,  1799. 

William  Johnson,  S.  C.,  1804. 

Brockholst  Livingston,  Y.  Y.,1807. 

Thomas  Todd,  Ya.,  1807. 


82 


OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Gabriel  Duvall,  Md.,  1811. 
Joseph  Story,  Mass.,  1811. 

Smith  Thompson,  1ST.  Y.,  1823. 
Robert  Trimble,  Ky.,  1823. 

John  McLean,  0.,  1829. 

Henry  Baldwin,  Pa.,  1830. 

James  M.  Wayne,  Ga.,  1835. 
Philip  P.  Barbour,  Va.,  1836. 
John  McKinley,  Ala.,  1837. 

John  Catron,  Term.,  1837. 

Peter  V.  Daniel,  Va.,  1841. 
Samuel  Kelson,  N.  Y.,  1845. 
Levi  Woodbury,  H.  H.,  1845. 
Robert  C.  Grier,  Pa.,  1846. 
Benjamin  R.  Curtis,  Mass.,  1851. 
James  A.  Campbell,  Ala.,  1853. 
Hathan  Clifford,  Me.,  1858. 

Hoah  H.  Swayne,  O.,  1862. 
Samuel  F.  Miller,  Iowa,  1862. 
Stephen  J.  Field,  Cal. 

David  Davis,  111.,  1862. 

William  Strong,  Pa.,  1870. 
Joseph  P.  Bradley,  K.  J.,  1870. 


CIRCUITS. 


83 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Circuits  and  Circuit  Courts. 

1.  In  the  last  chapter  we  gave  an  account  of  the 
United  States  Supreme  Court.  We  now  come  to  the 
United  States  Circuit  Courts,  the  next  in  dignity, 
power,  and  jurisdiction.  Unlike  the  Supreme  Court, 
which,  as  stated,  is  always  held  in  Washington,  the 
Circuit  Courts  are  held  in  every  State,  at  such  times 
and  places  as  Congress  by  law  directs.  It  would  add 
some  interest  and  utility  to  our  work  if  they  were  in- 
serted here,  so  as  to  show  when  and  where  these  courts 
are  held.  But  we  omit  this,  because  they  are  so  often 
changed,  that  what  is  now  correct  might  not  remain  so 
after  another  session  of  Congress.  These  changes  are 
made  to  accommodate  the  people  in  the  State,  or  the 
judges  of  the  court.  As  now  arranged,  the  whole  of 
the  States  are  divided  into  nine  circuits,  each  circuit 
comprising  several  States;  some  more  and  some  less, 
according  to  the  size  and  population  of  the  States  com- 
prised in  a circuit.  Then  the  court  is  held  in  each 
State  in  the  circuit.  This  arrangement  is  made  in  order 
to  bring  these  courts  within  convenient  reach  of  all  the 
people  in  every  part  of  the  country. 

2.  The  Circuit  Courts  are  held  by  the  Judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  who  allot  the  circuits  among  them- 
selves, and  then  travel  each  through  his  own  circuit, 
until  he  has'  visited  and  held  a session  in  every  State 
which  lies  within  it.  A Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 


84  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

is  the  presiding  and  supreme  magistrate  in  every  Cir- 
cuit Court,  but  the  Judge  of  the  District  Court  of  the 
district  in  which  the  Circuit  is  held,  sits  with  the  Judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  as  Associate  Justice. 

JURISDICTION. 

3.  These  Courts  have  both  original  and  appellate 
jurisdiction.  Causes  may  be  appealed  from  the  District 
■ Courts  to  the  Circuit.  They  also  have  concurrent  juris- 
diction with  the  State  courts,  where  the  matter  in  dispute 
exceeds  the  sum  of  $500,  and  the  United  States  are 
plaintiffs;  or  where  an  alien  is  a party,  or  where  the  suit  is 
between  citizens  of  different  States.  They  have  exclu- 
sive jurisdiction  in  all  cases  of  crimes  against  the  laws 
of  the  United  States,  except  where  the  law  especially 
confers  the  power  on  other  courts.  It  extends  to  all 
cases  under  the  revenue  laws  of  the  United  States. 

4.  There  is  also  a certain  class  of  cases,  (too  tedious 
to  be  described  here  in  detail),  which  may  be  removed 
from  State  and  from  District  Courts,  into  these  courts, 
and  be  tried  and  determined  in  the  same  manner  as  if 
they  had  been  commenced  here. 

The  officers  of  Circuit  Courts  are,  first,  the  Judges; 
second,  the  District  Attorney  of  the  district  in  which 
the  court  is  held;  third,  the  Marshal  of  the  district; 
and  fourth,  a Clerk,  who  is  appointed  by  the  court. 

5.  It  may  be  interesting,  and  perhaps  useful  to  know 
how  the  different  circuits  are  formed,  and  what  States 
lie  in  each.  They  have  been  from  time  to  time  in- 
creased in  number,  as  the  number  of  the  States  in- 
creased. In  some  cases  States  have  been  at  first  placed 
in  one  circuit,  and  afterwards  detached  and  placed  in 
another. 


CIRCUITS. 


85 


6.  By  the  Acts  of  1862  and  1863,  the  circuits  were 
arranged  as  follows  : — 

First  Circuit — Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,  Maine 
and  New  Hampshire,  (by  Act  of  1820.) 

Second  Circuit — Vermont,  Connecticut,  New  York, 
(Act  of  1837.) 

Third  Circuit — New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania. 

Fourth  Circuit — Maryland,  Virginia,  Delaware  and 
North  Carolina. 

Fifth  Circuit — South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama, 
Mississippi  and  Florida. 

Sixth  Circuit — Louisiana,  Texas,  Arkansas,  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee. 

Seventh  Circuit — Ohio  and  Indiana. 

Eighth  Circuit — Michigan  and  Illinois. 

Ninth  Circuit — Wisconsin,  Missouri,  Kansas  and 
Minnesota. 

Tenth  Circuit — California  and  Oregon. 

But  in  1866  this  arrangement  of  the  circuits  was 
again  changed;  and  this  was  done,  we  suppose,  to 
make  the  circuits  approximate  nearer  to  the  number 
of  Associate  Justices,  as  reduced  from  nine  to  six  by 
the  same  act ; for,  it  was  then  enacted  that  hereafter 
there  should  be  no  more  Associate  Justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court  appointed,  until  they  were  reduced 
(by  death  or  resignation),  to  six. 

7.  The  circuits  by  this  last  act  were  reduced  to  nine, 
and  were  arranged  as  follows : 

First  and  Second  Circuits  to  remain  as  before. 

The  Third  was  made  up  of  the  States  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, New  Jersey  and  Delaware. 


86 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


The  Fourth,  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  West  Virginia, 
North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina. 

The  Fifth,  of  Georgia,  Florida,  Alabama,  Missis- 
sippi, Louisiana  and  Texas. 

The  Sixth,  of  Ohio,  Michigan,  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee. 

The  Seventh,  of  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 

The  Eighth,  of  Minnesota,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Kansas 
and  Arkansas. 

The  Ninth,  of  California,  Oregon  and  Nevada. 

We  have  inserted  both  of  these  circuit  arrange- 
ments, because  one  new  State  (Nebraska),  has  been 
admitted  since  the  act  passed.  Others  will  soon  come 
in,  and  very  probably  the  old  number  of  circuits  and 
judges  will  be  restored. 


JAMES  MONROE. 

FIFTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


'v/// 


LIBRARY 
QF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


JUDICIAL  DISTRICTS. 


87 


CHAPTER  XVH. 

Judicial  Districts,  and  District  Courts. 

1.  We  come  now  to  the  lowest  grade  of  United 
States  courts,  excepting  the  local  courts  in  the  District 
of  Columbia,  and  the  Territorial  Courts.  A United 
States  District  Court  is  held  by  a District  Judge  in 
every  district.  Every  State  constitutes  at  least  one 
district,  several  of  the  larger  States  are  divided  into 
two,  and  some  into  three.  There  are  at  the  present 
time  fifty-nine  Judicial  Districts,  and  consequently  the 
same  number  of  District  Judges,  District  Attorneys, 
District  Clerks  and  Marshals.  The  Judges,  Attorneys 
and  Marshals  are  all  appointed  by  the  President  and 
Senate ; the  Clerks  by  the  respective  courts. 

TERMS. 

2.  By  the  law  of  1789  every  District  Judge  was  re- 
quired to  hold  four  sessions  a year,  at  such  times  and 
in  such  places  as  Congress  directed.  This  is  done  to 
this  day  in  a great  majority  of  the  States ; but  by  later 
laws,  in  some  of  the  districts  only  two  or  three  ses- 
sions a year  are  required. 

JURISDICTION. 

3.  These  courts  have  exclusive  jurisdiction  in  all 
admiralty  and  maritime  causes.  These  relate  to  mar- 
itime contracts,  and  to  crimes  against  the  laws  of  the 
United  States,  committed  on  the  sea  and  on  navigable 


88 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


lakes  and  rivers.  It  embraces  in  this  country  all  con- 
tracts respecting  vessels  and  navigation  ; such  as  char- 
tering, repairing,  and  fitting  them  out,  seamen’s  wages, 
&c.  They  have  in  some  cases  concurrent  jurisdiction 
with  the  Circuit  Courts,  in  cases  of  piracy,  and  exclu- 
sive cognizance  of  cases  where  seizures  are  made  for  a 
violation  of  the  revenue  laws,  or  laws  relating  to  im- 
posts and  navigation ; and  causes  against  consuls  and 
vice  consuls  where  the  amount  claimed  does  not  exceed 
$100.  In  short,  they  have  concurrent  jurisdiction 
with  the  Circuit  Courts,  of  all  crimes  against  the  laws 
of  the  United  States,  the  punishment  of  which  is  not 
capital.  The  trial  of  issues  of  fact  in  all  causes  except 
civil  causes  of  Admiralty  and  maritime  jurisdiction, 
must  be  by  jury. 

4.  Appeals  are  taken  from  these  courts  to  the  Cir- 
cuit Courts.  The  judges  are  appointed  like  those  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  for  life,  or  during  good  behaviour, 
and  receive  various  amounts  as  salary,  some  more  and 
some  less,  according  to  the  amount  of  services  to  be 
performed  in  their  respective  districts. 

5.  When  vessels  are  captured  in  time  of  war,  either 
by  the  public  armed  vessels  or  by  private  armed  ships, 
the  facts  and  circumstances  of  the  capture  must  be 
brought  before  a United  States  Circuit  or  District 
Court  for  adjudication  ; when  the  vessel  and  cargo  are 
either  condemned  as  a prize,  or  restored  to  their 
owners.  When  either  of  these  courts  adjudicate  such 
cases,  it  is  called  a Prize  Court. 

6.  For  the  same  reason  given  for  showing  the  com- 
position of  the  Judicial  Circuits  in  a condensed  form, 


JUDICIAL  DISTRICTS. 


89 


we  will  here  give  the  number  of  Judicial  Districts  in 
each  State  as  they  now  exist,  and  the  total  number  in 
all  the  States.  They  are  as  follows : — 


Alabama,  3. 

Arkansas,  2. 

California,  2. 
Connecticut,  1. 
Delaware,  1. 

Florida,  2. 

Georgia,  2. 

Illinois,  2. 

Indiana,  1. 

Iowa,  1. 

Kansas,  1. 

Kentucky,  1. 

Louisiana,  2. 

Maine,  1. 

Maryland,  1. 
Massachusetts,  1. 
Michigan,  2. 

Minnesota,  1. 

District  of  Columbia,  1. 


Mississippi,  2. 
Missouri,  2. 
Nevada,  1. 

New  Hampshire,  1. 
New  Jersey,  1. 

New  York,  3. 
North  Carolina,  3. 
Nebraska,  1. 

Ohio,  2. 

Oregon,  1. 
Pennsylvania,  2. 
Rhode  Island,  1. 
South  Carolina,  2. 
Tennessee,  3. 

Texas,  2. 

Vermont,  1. 
Virginia,  1. 

West  Virginia,  1. 
Wisconsin,  1. 

, 59. 


90 


OUTLINES  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT, 


CHAPTER.  XVIII. 

Court  of  Claims. 

1.  This  court  was  established  by  act  of  Congress 
in  1855.  A brief  extract  from  the  law  itself,  will  best 
explain  the  object  of  its  creation,  its  jurisdiction, 
powers  and  duties.  The  law  reads  thus : “ A court 
shall  be  established  to  be  called  the  Court  of  Claims, 
to  consist  of  three  judges,  to  be  appointed  by  the 
President  and  Senate,  and  to  hold  their  offices  during 
good  behavior ; and  the  said  court  shall  hear  and  de- 
termine all  claims  founded  upon  any  law  of  Congress, 
or  upon  any  regulation  of  an  Executive  department, 
or  upon  any  contract  express  or  implied,  with  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States ; which  may  be  sug- 
gested to  it  by  a petition  filed  therein ; and  also  all 
claims  which  may  be  referred  to  said  court  by  either 
house  of  Congress/’ 

2.  On  the  third  of  March,  1863,  the  jurisdiction  of 
this  court  was  enlarged,  and  two  additional  judges  ap- 
pointed, (making  five,)  from  the  whole  number  of 
which  the  President  was  authorized  to  appoint  one  a 
Chief  Justice  for  said  court. 

3.  The  mode  of  commencing  proceeding  before  this 
tribunal  is  by  petition  ; in  which  the  claimant  must 
fully  set  forth  his  claim,  how  it  arose,  its  amount,  and 
the  parties  interested  therein.  After  the  case  has  been 
heard  and  determined,  the  court  reports  to  Congress 
what  its  decision  is,  and  if  favorable  to  the  claimant,  a 
bill  is  passed  for  his  relief. 


COURT  OF  CLAIMS. 


91 


4.  It  holds  one  session  a year,  in  Washington,,  com- 
mencing on  the  first  Monday  in  October,  and  continu- 
ing as  long  as  business  before  it  requires.  It  not  only 
tries  claims  against  the  government,  but  by  its  enlarged 
jurisdiction,  conferred  in  1863,  it  also  tries  counter 
claims,  and  set-offs,  which  the  United  States  may  have 
against  the  claimant.  Appeals  are  taken  from  the 
Court  of  Claims  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  when  the  amount  in  controversy  exceeds  $3,000. 

5.  Before  the  establishment  of  this  court,  the  only 
remedy  persons  having  claims  upon  the  government 
had,  was  by  petitioning  to  Congress  for  relief ; which 
experience  proved  to  be  a long,  tedious  and  expensive 
mode  of  obtaining  their  dues.  The  petition  now  goes 
to  this  court,  where  it  is  heard  and  adjudicated  in  the 
same  form,  and  by  the  same  rules  of  procedure  which 
are  observed  in  other  courts ; for  Congress  has  confer- 
red upon  it  all  the  powers  commonly  possessed  by 
other  courts  of  law.  It  also  has  a seal. 

6.  It  has  greatly  facilitated  the  settlement  of  claims 
against  the  government,  and  has  relieved  Congress  of 
a great  amount  of  labor,  which  was  urgently  pressed 
upon  it  at  every  session. 

7.  In  addition  to  the  five  judges,  it  has  a Solicitor, 
an  Assistant  Solicitor,  and  a Deputy  Solicitor,  all  ot 
whom  are  appointed  by  the  President  and  Senate ; and 
are  officers  of  the  court,  whose  duty  it  is  faithfully  to 
defend  the  United  States  in  all  matters  and  claims  be- 
fore this  court. 

The  Judges  receive  $4,000  per  annum  salary.  The 


92 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Solicitor  and  Assistant  Solicitor  receive  $3,500  each, 
and  the  Deputy  Solicitor  $2,500  per  annum. 

A bailiff',  a clerk,  a crier  and  messenger,  all  of  whom 
are  appointed  by  the  court,  make  up  the  remaining 
officials. 

In  order  to  give  the  reader  a better  idea  of  proceed- 
ings in  this  tribunal,  it  may  be  stated  that  claimants 
stand  in  relation  of  plaintiffs,  and  the  government  in 
that  of  defendant. 


DISTRICT  ATTORNEYS. 


93 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

District  Attorneys. 

1.  In  the  twelfth  chapter  we  spoke  of  the  appoint- 
ment, position  and  duties  of  the  Attorney  General  of 
the  United  States,  and  originally  intended  to  place  our 
remarks  upon  the  District  Attorneys,  next  in  order ; 
hut  subsequently  changed  this  plan,  and  determined  to 
place  them  immediately  after  those  upon  the  courts ; 
for  next  to  the  judges,  they — the  District  Attorneys — 
are  the  highest  officers  in  both  the  Circuit  and  District 
Courts.  By  reading  this  and  the  twelfth  chapter  con- 
secutively, a better  understanding  of  both  these  classes 
of  officials  may  be  gained,  and  a clearer  insight  into 
the  judicial  machinery  of  the  government. 

2.  In  another  place  we  have  spoken  of  the  division 
of  the  United  States  (see  political  divisions),  into  Judi- 
cial Districts,  in  each  of  which  there  is  held  a District 
Court,  and  a District  Attorney  is  appointed  for  each 
court,  in  the  same  manner  that  the  Attorney  General 
is  appointed.  He  bears  the  same  official  relation  to 
these  courts,  and  has  similar  duties  to  perform  in 
them,  that  the  Attorney  General  has  in  the  Su- 
preme Court.  It  is  his  duty  “ to  prosecute  in 
such  district  all  delinquents  for  crimes  and  offen- 
ces cognizable  under  the  authority  of  the  United 
States,  and  all  civil  actions  in  which  the  United  States 
shall  be  concerned.”  They  are  his  clients,  and  he 
must  enforce  their  rights,  and  defend  them,  in  the  same 


94 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


manner  that  any  attorney  protects  and  defends  his 
client  in  any  of  the  State  courts.  In  ease  of  necessity, 
he  may  appoint  a substitute  to  act  in  his  place.  All 
fees  over  and  above  what  he  is  allowed  as  compensa- 
tion for  his  services,  he  must  report  and  pay  into  the 
United  States  Treasury. 

3.  He  must  defend  collectors  of  the  customs  and 
other  revenue  officers  in  his  district,  when  suits  are 
brought  against  them  in  their  official  capacity,  and 
must  report  to  the  Solicitor  of  the  Treasury  the  num- 
ber of  suits  determined  and  pending  in  his  district. 
And  when  prize  cases  have  been  determined,  or  are 
pending  in  the  District  Court  of  his  district,  he  must 
report  the  state  and  condition  of  each  case  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Havy. 

District  Attorneys  are  appointed  for  four  years, 
but  may  be  removed  at  the  pleasure  of  the  President. 
Their  compensation  depends  on  the  amount  of  business 
to  be  done  in  their  respective  districts.  "When  impor- 
tant ports  of  entry,  such  as  Hew  York  or  Boston,  lie  in 
their  districts,  their  duties  are  very  numerous,  and  they 
receive  a corresponding  compensation. 


U.  S.  MARSHALS. 


95 


CHAPTER  XX. 

United  States  Marshals. 

1.  United  States  Marshals,  commonly  called  simply 
Marshals,  are  the  ministerial  officers  of  the  United 
States  courts.  Their  duties  and  responsibilities  are 
very  similar,  and  nearly  identical  with  the  duties  and 
responsibilities  of  sheriffs  in  the  courts  of  the  several 
States.  They  are  appointed  by  the  President  and 
Senate,  for  a term  of  four  years.  They  appoint  their 
own  deputies,  and  their  compensation  consists  of  fees 
instead  of  a salary;  and  depends  entirely  upon  the 
amount  of  business  they  have  to  transact.  There  is  a 
Marshal  in  every  Judicial  District  in  the  United  States, 
and  there  are  fifty-nine  of  these  districts  in  all,  as 
stated  in  another  place.  Every  State  forms  at  least 
one  district,  while  the  larger  States  are  divided  into 
two  or  three. 

2.  A District  Court  is  held  in  every  district;  and  it 
is  the  Marshal’s  duty  to  attend  the  sittings  of  these 
courts,  and  also  those  of  the  United  States  Circuit  Courts, 
when  they  happen  to  sit  in  his  district.  The  Marshal 
for  the  District  of  Columbia  must  also  attend  the  sit- 
tings of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  execute  its  precepts. 
We  have  said  that  they  are  the  ministerial  officers  of 
the  United  States  courts;  for  it  is  their  duty  to  serve 
all  writs  and  precepts  emanating  from  them,  whether 
of  a civil  or  criminal  character;  and  to  execute  the 

judgments  and  decrees  of  these  tribunals;  and  for  this 
7 


96 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


purpose  they  are  authorized  by  law,  (if  necessary),  to 
command  such  assistance  as  they  may  need  in  the  exe- 
cution of  their . duties.  Before  they  enter  upon  the 
duties  of  their  office,  they  must  be  bound  to  the  United 
States  for  the  faithful  performance  of  them,  and  must 
solemnly  swear  to  do  them,  without  malice  or  partiality ; 
and  that  they  will  take  only  lawful  fees.  They  are 
also  held  answerable  for  the  delivery  to  their  succes- 
sors of  all  prisoners  who  may  be  in  their  custody  at  the 
time  of  their  removal,  or  at  the  expiration  of  their  term 
of  office. 

3.  They  also  have  the  custody  of  all  vessels  and  goods 
seized  by  any  officer  of  the  revenue.  It  is  their  duty 
also  to  summon,  and  to  pay  jurors  and  witnesses  in 
behalf  of  any  prisoner  to  be  tried  for  a capital  offence, 
under  the  laws  of  the  United  States.  In  the  remarks 
made  under  the  head  “ Census,”  we  stated  that  it  was 
made  the  duty  of  the  Marshals  to  superintend  and 
direct  the  enumeration  of  the  people;  and  to  collect 
such  statistical  facts  as  the  law  requires.  This  they  do 
through  deputies,  whom  they  appoint  for  that  special 
purpose. 

The  United  States  Marshal  is  also  required,  on  the 
first  day  of  January  and  July  of  each  year,  to  make  a 
return  of  all  the  fees  and  emoluments  of  his  office  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  Interior;  and  if  they  amount  to 
more  than  $6,000  per  year,  he  must  pay  the  surplus 
into  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States. 


GRAND  JURY. 


97 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Grand  Jury. 

1.  By  turning  to  the  fifth  article  of  the  amendments 
to  the  Constitution,  you  will  find  these  words:  “Xo 
person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a capital  or  other- 
wise infamous  crime,  unless  on  a presentment  or  indict- 
ment of  a Grand  Jury;  except  in  cases  arising  in  the 
land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the  militia,  when  in  actual 
service,  in  time  of  war  or  public  danger.”  This  con- 
stitutional provision  makes  a Grand  Jury  a very 
important  agent  or  instrumentality  in  the  execution  of 
the  laws,  and  also  a safeguard  of  the  liberties  and  rights 
of  the  people.  It  secures  every  person  from  the  ex- 
pense and  disgrace  of  a trial  for  infamous  crimes,  unless 
a Grand  Jury  of  his  countrymen  shall  find  upon  inquiry 
and  investigation,  that  there  are  good  reasons  for  be- 
lieving that  the  person  so  charged  has  committed  the 
alleged  offence. 

2.  This  provision  not  only  protects  those  who  are 
charged  with  these  crimes  against  the  laws  of  the 
United  States,  but  those  also  who  may  be  charged  with 
such  offences  against  the  laws  of  any  State;  for  no 
State  can  arrest  and  try  any  person  for  a capital  or  in- 
famous crime  without  these  preliminary  proceedings 
of  a Grand  Jury;  and  should  it  do  so,  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court  would  set  its  laws  aside,  as  contrary 
to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  • Here  we  see 
that  the  government  is  just  as  careful  to  protect  it3 


98  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

citizens  from  injustice  by  hasty  judicial  proceedings, 
as  it  is  to  punish  them  after  a fair  and  impartial  trial. 

3.  A Grand  Jury,  when  called  to  take  cognizance 
of  violations  of  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  to  find 
indictments  against  those  who  are  charged  with  them, 
is  summoned  by  a judge  of  a United  States  court  in 
the  circuit  or  district  where  the  alleged  crime  has 
been  perpetrated;  and  it  must  take  notice  of  all  crimes 
against  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  which  may  be 
brought  to  its  knowledge,  within  the  circuit  or  district 
in  which  it  sits.  Hence,  if  ordered  by  a Circuit 
Judge,  its  powers  extend  over  all  those  States  which 
lie  in  that  circuit.  But  when  ordered  by  a District 
Judge,  its  powers  extend  only  to  that  district  in  which 
it  sits,  and  a district  never  embraces  more  than  one 
State,  and  in  many  cases  a State  is  divided  into  two 
or  three  districts. 

4.  This  shows  us  how  much  more  extensive  is  the 
jurisdiction  of  a Grand  Jury,  when  acting  under  the 
laws  of  the  United  States,  than  when  acting  under  State 
laws.  In  the  former  it  extends  generally  all  over  a 
State,  and  sometimes  over  several  States.  But  in  the 
latter  it  is  confined  to  the  county  in  which  it  sits. 

GRAND  AND  PETIT  JURIES. 

It  may  be  interesting  and  useful  to  our  young  readers, 
to  explain  here  the  difference  between  a Grand  and  a 
Petit  Jury,  as  they  are  commonly  denominated.  First, 
a Grand  Jury  never  acts  but  in  criminal  cases.  A 
Petit  Jury  acts  in  both  criminal  and  civil  cases.  The 
finding  or  conclusion  arrived  at  by  a Grand  Jury  is 
called  a presentment,  or  an  indictment.  The  finding 
of  a Petit  Jury  is  called  its  verdict. 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS, 

SIXTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GRAND  JURY. 


99 


5.  Second,  a Grand  Jury  sits  alone  (not  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  court),  and  deliberates  upon  such  matters 
of  a criminal  character  as  it  possesses  knowledge  of,  or 
which  may  be  brought  to  its  notice  by  the  court  or  by 
other  persons  ; and  when  it  finds  that  great  evils  exist, 
and  wrongs  have  been  perpetrated,  it  presents  them  to 
the  court,  and  calls  the  attention  of  the  law  officers  to 
them  ; which  is  equivalent  to  a recommendation  that 
judicial  proceedings  should  be  commenced  to  abate  the 
evil,  or  to  punish  the  wrong  doer.  This  is  called  a pre- 
sentment of  the  Grand  Jury. 

And  when  they  find,  upon  such  evidence  as  they 
have,  that  a great  crime  has  been  perpetrated,  or  that 
they  have  good  reason  so  to  believe,  and  that  it  has 
been  perpetrated  by  some  person  specified,  they  report 
their  finding  or  conclusion  to  the  Court.  This  is 
called  an  indictment  by  the  Grand  Jury;  after  which 
the  person  so  charged  is  arrested,  if  at  large,  and  can 
be  found,  and  is  either  imprisoned  or  held  to  bail  for 
his  appearance  at  court  to  stand  trial. 

6.  A Grand  Jury  never  tries  a case.  It  only  says  to 
the  court  by  its  presentment  or  indictment,  that  the 
case  presented,  or  the  person  indicted,  ought  to  be 
brought  before  the  court,  and  tried  for  the  alleged 
wrong  or  crime. 

A Petit  Jury  sits  with  the  court,  hears  the  pleadings 
and  arguments  of  counsel  on  both  sides,  listens  to  the 
evidence  of  witnesses ; and  then  hears  the  charge  of 
the  judge,  as  to  the  law  applicable  to  the  case;  after 
which  they  withdraw  and  deliberate  alone  upon  the 
case,  and  if  they  agree  in  a criminal  case,  their  verdict 


100  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

is  “Guilty,”  or  “Not  Guilty;  ” if  in  a civil  suit,  they 
say  how  much  one  party  is  indebted  (if  any),  to  the 
other. 

7.  The  object  aimed  at  in  that  article  of  the  Consti- 
tution which  stands  at  the  head  of  this  chapter,  is  to 
protect  persons  from  false  charges  of  crime,  and  hasty 
adjudication  of  such  charges;  for  it  substantially 
amounts  to  a declaration  that  no  person  shall  be  pun- 
ished for  a capital  or  infamous  crime,  unless  one  jury, 
before  trial,  shall,  upon  information  and  belief,  charge 
him  with  the  offence ; and  another,  after  trial,  shall 
find  him  guilty  of  the  alleged  crime. 

The  above  remarks  are  as  applicable  to  Grand  and 
Petit  Juries,  acting  under  State,  as  those  which  act 
under  the  United  States  laws. 


ADMIRALTY  AND  MARITIME  JURISDICTION.  101 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Admiralty  and  Maritime  Jurisdiction. 

In  ancient  times — and  long  before  this  government 
existed — civilized  and  commercial  nations  had  codes  or 
laws  which  related  especially  to  transactions  upon  the 
sea.  Those  respecting  ships  of  war  and  warlike  ope- 
rations at  sea,  were  called  the  laws  of  Admiralty ; 
those  respecting  vessels  engaged  in  commercial  affairs 
were  called  Maritime  laws ; and  the  courts  empowered 
with  jurisdiction  to  hear  and  try  causes,  or  to  take 
any  judicial  proceedings  in  those  cases,  were  styled 
Courts  of  Admiralty  and  Maritime  Jurisdiction. 
These  laws,  in  many  respects,  differed  so  materially 
from  the  laws  relating  to  affairs  on  land,  that  the  au- 
thority and  power  to  take  proceedings  in,  and  adjudi- 
cate upon  them,  was  conferred  upon  a particular  class 
of  courts.  Hence  we  see  the  origin  of  the  names  of 
such  tribunals. 

In  this  country,  the  United  States  District  Courts 
have  been  designated  by  the  laws  as  the  courts  which 
shall  have  original  and  exclusive  authority  to  adjudi- 
cate this  class  of  causes ; yet  an  appeal  from  the  Dis- 
trict to  the  Circuit  Courts  may  be  taken. 

KIND  OF  CASES. 

The  word  Maritime  designates  that  which  relates  to 
the  sea.  Yet,  in  the  United  States,  cases  which  come 
within  Admiralty  and  Maritime  jurisdiction,  are  not 


102 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


restricted  to  the  sea,  or  to  transactions  relating  to  busi- 
ness or  crimes  done  on  it,  but  are  made  to  embrace 
those  which  occur  on  navigable  lakes  and  rivers,  and 
include  seizures  made  for  the  violation  of  the  laws  of 
impost,  navigation  or  trade,  suits  for  the  recovery  of 
seamen’s  wages,  contracts  for  building,  repairing  or 
fitting  out  vessels,  and,  briefly,  all  contracts  where  the 
subject-matter  relates  to  the  navigation  of  the  sea. 
The  District  Courts  have  Admiralty  and  Maritime 
jurisdiction  in  all  these  cases,  without  regard  to  the 
amount  claimed,  and  in  criminal  as  well  as  in  civil 
suits. 

The  foregoing  remarks  show  the  workings  of  our 
judicial  system,  as  it  applies  to  business  done,  and 
crimes  committed  upon  the  high  seas. 


i 


i 


CONGRESSMEN. 


103 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Congressmen. 

1.  Congressman,  in  the  most  comprehensive  sense 
in  which  the  term  may  be  used,  means  any  member 
in  either  branch  of  Congress.  But  there  is  a more 
restricted  sense  in  which  it  is  most  commonly  used, 
and  in  this  sense  it  is  generally  understood ; that  is,  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  lower  of 
the  two  Houses.  These  are  elected  by  the  people,  in 
each  State,  and  in  the  Congressional  districts  of  that 
State;  and  they  are  the  only  persons  either  in  the 
Legislative,  Executive,  or  Judiciary  branches  of  the 
government,  for  whom  the  people  vote  directly.  They 
are  elected  by  single  districts,  that  is,  but  one  member 
is  chosen  in  one  district.  They  are  elected  for  two 
years,  that  is,  during  the  term  of  a Congress,  which  lasts 
two  years,  and  always  holds  two  sessions.  The 
President  may  call  an  extra  session,  if  in  his  judgment 
the  exigencies  of  the  country  are  such  as  to  require  its 
action  before  the  time  of  the  regular  meeting.  This 
has  been  done  on  several  occasions. 

2.  The  Constitution  prescribes  the  qualifications  of 
members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  (which  see). 
They  are  also  stated  in  Chapter  III,  where  much  other 
matter  relating  to  this  subject  may  be  found.  The 
Constitution  is  silent  as  to  the  number  of  members  of 
which  the  House  shall  be  composed,  excepting  that  it 
specifies  how  many  each  State  should  have,  until  the 
first  enumeration  of  the  people  in  1790  ; and  since  then 
Congress  has  from  time  to  time  fixed  the  number, 
which  is  now  241 — to  which  must  be  added  one  for 
Nevada,  and  one  for  Nebraska,  which  States  were  ad- 
mitted since  the  last  apportionment. 


104 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Congressional  Districts. 

Whenever  the  population  of  a State  is  so  small  that 
it  is  entitled  to  only  one  Representative  in  Congress, 
the  whole  State  forms  but  one  Congressional  district ; 
but  whenever  it  is  entitled  to  two  or  more,  then  it  is 
divided  by  its  Legislature  into  as  many  districts  as  its 
population  entitles  it  to  return  members ; so  that 
every  member  of  Congress  is  chosen  by  single  districts. 
The  act  thus  districting  the  States  was  passed  in  1862. 
In  large  cities,  certain  sections  or  wards  are  constitu- 
ted a Congressional  district.  In  the  country,  a county 
or  several  counties  are  formed  into  a district ; but  in 
all  cases  a district  must  consist  of  contiguous  territory, 
not  scattered,  apiece  here  and  a piece  there,  in  different 
parts  of  the  State  or  country. 

These  districts  must  be  re-arranged  every  ten  years, 
and  as  soon  as  may  be  after  the  census  is  taken  (which 
is  every  ten  years),  and  the  population  known  and  pub- 
lished. The  reason  for  this  re-arrangement  becomes 
apparent  from  the  fact  that  the  number  of  the  popula- 
tion is  constantly  changing.  In  some  States  and  coun- 
ties it  is  rapidly  increasing ; in  others  increasing  very 
slowly,  or  not  at  all,  or  indeed  may  be  decreasing.  In 
new  Western  States  it  has  increased  uniformly  so  rap- 
idly that  at  the  end  of  every  decade  they  have  been 
entitled  to  an  increase  of  Representatives  ; while  some 
of  the  older  States,  not  increasing  so  fast,  have  actually 
lost,  so  that  what  we  state  as  the  number  of  Represen- 
tatives of  each  State  now,  may  not  be  exactly  correct 
after  the  next  census.  Hence  we  see  that  Congres- 
sional Districts  are  not  permanent  political  divisions, 
but  are  liable  to  frequent  changes.  If  they  were  per- 
manent, they  would  probably  be  laid  down  in  our  com- 
mon maps,  as  counties  sometimes  are.  They  are  now 
generally  designated  by  the  ordinal  numbers,  as  1st,  2d, 
3rd,  4th,  &c.,  Congressional  districts  of  such  a State. 


CLERK  OF  THE  HOUSE. 


105 


CHAPTER  XXY. 

Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and 
Secretary  of  the  Senate. 

1.  The  name  of  the  first  mentioned  officer  indicates 
the  nature  of  his  duties.  He  of  course  must  keep  a 
record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  House  of  which  he  is 
Clerk.  In  addition  to  the  ordinary  duties  of  his  posi- 
tion, Congress  requires  him  to  give  bonds  in  the  sum  of 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  that  he  will  faithfully  apply 
and  disburse  the  contingent  funds  of  the  House,  which 
may  come  into  his  hands.  He,  with  the  Secretary  of 
the  Senate,  is  authorized  to  advertise  for  proposals  for 
supplying  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
with  stationery  and  printing. 

2.  He  must  lay  before  Congress  the  names  and  com- 
pensation of  all  clerks  and  messengers  employed  in 
his  office,  and  a detailed  statement  of  all  expenditures 
from  the  contingent  fund  of  the  House,  together  with 
a statement  of  all  appropriations  made  by  Congress 
during  the  last  session,  and  all  new  officers  created  by 
it,  and  their  salaries. 

3. ’  He  is  chosen  by  the  members  of  the  House,  holds 
his  office  two  years,  and  receives  a salary  of  $3,000  a 
year.  He  has  the  use  of  the  Congressional  Library, 
and  is  entitled  to  the  franking  privilege. 

SECRETARY  OF  THE  SENATE. 

The  duties,  compensation,  mode  of  election,  powTers 
and  privileges  of  this  officer,  are  so  much  like  those  of 
the  Clerk  of  the  House,  that  to  describe  them  would 
be  little  more  than  to  reiterate  the  former  part  of  this 
chapter. 


106 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

1.  The  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  is 
the  presiding  officer  thereof.  He  is  chosen  by  the 
members  of  that  body,  and  is  selected  for  this  impor- 
tant position  in  view  of  his  knowledge  of  parliamentary 
law  and  usages.  He  is  elected  for  the  full  term  of  the 
Congress  which  chooses  him.  His  compensation,  by  an 
act  of  1856,  was  fixed  at  double  the  amount  received  by 
other  members  of  the  House  ; for  his  duties  are  much 
more  arduous  than  those  of  an  ordinary  member. 

2.  The  law  provides  that  in  case  of  the  death,  resig- 
nation, impeachment,  or  any  other  disability  of  both  the 
President  and  Vice  President,  the  President  of  the  Sen- 
ate pro  tem.,  must  then  act  as  President ; but  in  case 
there  happens  to  be  no  President  of  the  Senate,  then 
the  Speaker  becomes  acting  President. 

3.  The  Speakership  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
has  always  been  regarded  as  a very  respectable  and 
honorable  position.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
all  the  Speakers  of  the  House,  since  the  establishment 
of  the  government,  down  to  1869. 

Frederick  A.  Muhlenburgh,  Penn.,  1789  to  1791 
Jonathan  Trumbull,  Conn.,  1791  “ 1793 

Frederick  A.  Muhlenburgh,  Penn.,  1793  “ 1797 
Jonathan  Dayton,  X.  J.,  1797  “ 1798 

Theodore  Sedgwick,  Mass.,  1798  “ 1801 

Nathaniel  Macon,  X.  C.,  1801  “ 1807 

Joseph  B.  Varnum,  Mass.,  1807  “ 1811 


SPEAKER  OP  THE  HOUSE. 


107 


Henry  Clay,  Ky., 

Langdon  Cheeves,  S.  C., 
Henry  Clay,  Ky., 

JohnW.  Taylor,  N.  Y., 
Philip  P.  Barbour,  Ya., 
Henry  Clay  Ky., 

John  W.  Taylor,  K Y., 
Andrew  Stevenson,  Ya., 
John  Bell,  Tenn., 

James  K.  Polk,  Tenn., 
Robert  M.  T.  Hunter,  Ya., 
John  White,  Ky., 

John  W.  Jones,  Ya., 

John  W.  Davis,  Ind., 
Robert  C.  Winthrop,  Mass., 
Howell  Cobb,  Ga., 

Lynn  Boyd,  Ky., 

Nathaniel  P.  Banks,  Mass., 
James  L.  Orr,  S.  C., 
"William  Pennington,  N.  J., 
Galusha  A.  Grow,  Penn., 
Schuyler  Colfax,  Ind., 
James  G.  Blaine,  Me., 


1811  to  1814 

1814  “ 1815 

1815  “ 1820 
1820  “ 1821 
1821  “ 1823 
1823  “1825 
1825  “ 1827 
1827  “ 1835 
1835  “ 1837 
1837  “ 1839 
1839  “ 1841 
1841  “ 1843 
1843  “ 1845 
1845  “ 1847 
1847  “ 1849 
1849  “ 1851 
1851  “ 1856 
1856  “ 1858 
1858  “ 1859 
1860  “ 1861 
1861  “ 1863 
1864  “ 1869 
1869  « 1871 


108 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Acts  of  Congress. 

1.  In  a comprehensive  sense,  an  act  of  Congress  is 
any  act  done  by  it,  whether  it  is  making  a law,  the 
passage  of  a resolution,  or  any  proceedings  taken  by  it. 
But  in  a more  restricted  sense,  and  what  is  usually 
meant  by  “an  act  of  Congress,”  is  a bill  (as  a proposed 
law,  when  laid  before  any  Legislative  body  is  called), 
passed  by  both  Houses  of  Congress  into  a law,  accord- 
ing to  the  forms  and  prescribed  rules  always  adhered 
to  in  the  enactment  of  laws,  and  afterwards  signed  by 
the  President,  or  passed  by  the  votes  of  two-thirds  of 
both  Houses,  when  the  President  refuses  to  sign  it. 

2.  Hence  every  law  of  the  United  States  is  an  act  of 
Congress,  properly  introduced,  examined,  and  gener- 
ally debated,  altered  and  amended  if  thought  best,  and 
then  voted  for  by  a majority  of  the  members  of  the 
House  in  which  it  originated,  after  which  it  is  sent 
to  the  other  House,  where  it  goes  through  the  same 
form,  and,  if  approved  by  both  Houses,  it  is  then  sent 
to  the  President  for  his  signature,  and,  when  signed  by 
him,  the  bill  becomes  a law,  “an  act  of  Congress.” 
These  laws  are  then  published  in  some  of  the  newspa- 
pers in  every  State  and  Territory,  also  in  pamphlet  and 
book  form,  and  distributed  to  every  State  and  Territory, 
to  the  Members  of  Congress,  and  to  all  the  principal 
officers  of  government  at  home  and  abroad,  that  the 


ACTS  OF  CONGRESS. 


109 


people  may  know  what  the  laws  are  by  which  they  are 
to  be  governed. 

3.  Every  law  passed  by  Congress  is  preceded  by 
these  words : “Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in 
Congress  assembled.”  This  is  called  the  enacting 
clause. 

A resolution,  when  passed  by  Congress,  although  in 
some  instances  of  the  same  force  as  law,  is  an  act  of 
Congress  of  a very  different  character  from  those  acts 
by  which  laws  are  enacted,  for  these  must  all  be  done 
according  to  established  parliamentary  usages  and 
forms,  such  as  laying  it  (the  proposed  law)  before  Con- 
gress in  the  form  of  a bill,  printing  it,  referring  it  to 
an  appropriate  committee,  to  be  afterwards  reported 
by  that  committee,  the  placing  it  in  its  order  upon  the 
records  of  the  House,  and  the  calling  it  up  in  its  regu- 
lar order,  to  be  debated  and  voted  upon. 

4.  But  resolutions  are  offered  in  writing,  and  often 
passed  on  the  spot,  though  they  are  sometimes  laid 
over  and  referred  to  a committee,  then  called  up  at 
the  proper  time,  and  debated,  passed  or  rejected. 

Some  of  the  most  important  work  of  Congress  is 
done,  however,  by  means  of  resolutions;  for  instance, 
its  proceeding  relative  to  an  amendment  of  the  Con- 
stitution is  done  by  the  passage  of  a resolution  through 
, both  Houses.  Many  other  matters  upon  which  Con- 
gress acts,  are  disposed  of  in  the  same  way.  Its 
requirements  of  the  President,  the  heads  of  Depart- 
ments, and  other  officers  of  the  government,  are  made 
by  resolutions,  and  have  the  binding  force  of  law;  for 


110  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

♦ 

a disregard  of  these  requirements  or  instructions,  when 
made  or  given  to  any  of  these  officers,  would  be  con- 
sidered the  same  as  a violation  of  law,  and  would 
render  the  official  liable  to  censure,  or  perhaps  to  im- 
peachment, or  removal  from  office. 

5.  Other  resolutions  are  merely  expressive  of  the 
sentiments  or  opinionsof  Congress,  such  as  the  thanks  it 
frequently  votes  to  officers  of  the  army  and  navy  for 
brave  and  gallant  conduct  in  the  discharge  of  their 
duty  in  perilous  situations.  Such  a recognition  of  the 
merits  and  good  conduct  of  any  man  in  the  public  ser- 
vice, is  considered  highly  honorable  to  him  who 
receives  it. 

Some  resolutions  are  concurrent — that  is,  both  Hou- 
ses of  Congress  must  concur  in  or  pass  the  same  before 
they  have  any  power  or  validity.  The  Constitution 
prohibits  either  House  of  Congress  from  adjourning 
for  more  than  three  days  without  the  concurrence  of 
the  other  House.  A final  adjournment,  or  any  other, 
for  more  than  three  days,  would  require  the  passage 
of  a concurrent  resolution. 

6.  Other  resolutions  may  pass  in  only  one  House, 
but  are  equally  binding  upon  the  members  and  officers 
of  that  House  which  passes  them  ; but  they  do  not  bind 
the  officers  of  the  other  House:  such,  for  example,  as 
relate  to  adjournments  for  not  more  than  three  days; 
to  the  order  of  business  in  that  House ; directions  to 
the  officers  and  employes  of  that  body,  &c.,  &e. 


RATIO  OF  REPRESENTATION.  . Ill 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Ratio  of  Representation. 

1.  The  ratio  of  representation  simply  means  the 
ratio  between  the  whole  population  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  whole  number  of  their  Representatives 
in  Congress;  and  this  of  course  includes  the  ratio  be- 
tween the  people  of  any  individual  State,  and  the  Rep- 
resentatives it  is  entitled  to;  both  being  estimated 
upon  the  same  basis,  and  determined  by  the  same  rule. 

2.  The  distinctive  characteristic  of  our  government 
is,  that  it  is  a popular  government.  Its  power  is  vested 
in  the  people.  They  elect  their  rulers,  who  are  the 
servants  of  the  people,  and  these  rulers  are  expected  to 
carry  out  the  people’s  wishes.  Upon  such  a system, 
it  is  a matter  of  the  first  importance,  to  distribute  this 
power  equally  among  all  the  people,  and  after  having 
fixed  upon  the  ratio  between  the  whole  population 
and  the  whole  number  of  Representatives;  or,  in  other 
words,  after  having  determined  how  many  members 
shall  compose  the  lower  House  of  Congress,  the  next 
step  is  to  apportion  these  members  among  all  the 
States  in  the  ratio  of  their  population.  If  one  State 
has  twice  the  number  of  inhabitants  that  another  has, 
it  will  be  entitled  to  twice  the  number  of  Representa- 
tives in  Congress.  If  one  has  ten  times  the  inhabi- 
tants that  another  has,  it  will  be  entitled  to  ten  times 
the  number  of  Representatives,  and  so  on;  with  this  one 

exception,  which  is,  that  by  a provision  in  the  Consti- 
8 


112  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

tution,  every  State,  without  regard  to  its  population, 
is  entitled  to  one  Representative  in  the  lower  House. 

3.  The  adjustment  of  this  matter  is  all  provided  for 
in  the  Constitution,  that  is,  in  its  general  features; 
hut  it  devolves  upon  Congress  in  every  tenth  year  to 
re-adjust  and  re-apportion  the  Representatives  among 
the  several  States,  according  to  the  population  of  each 
State  as  shown  by  the  last  census,  which  is  taken 
every  tenth  year;  and  when  the  apportionment  is 
once  made,  it  remains  the  same  for  the  next  ten  years, 
when  the  census  is  taken  again,  and  anew  apportion- 
ment is  made. 

4.  Up  to  the  present  time  (1871,)  this  has  been  done 
nine  times.  It  was  done  the  first  time  by  the  conven- 
tion which  formed  the  Constitution.  That  apportion- 
ment is  found  in  the  Constitution,  and  is  as  follows: 


To  New  Hampshire,  3 Pennsylvania,  8 

Massachusetts,  8 Delaware,  1 

Rhode  Island,  1 Maryland,  6 

Connecticut,  5 Virginia,  10 

New  York,  6 North  Carolina,  5 

New  Jersey,  4 South  Carolina,  5 

Georgia,  3. 


By  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  first  Congress  con- 
sisted of  but  65  members. 

The  Constitution  also  provided  that  the  Representa- 
tives should  not  exceed  one  to  every  30,000  people. 
The  next  year  after  the  government  went  into  opera- 
tion, (1790),  the  first  census  was  taken,  and  as  soon  as 
the  result  was  known,  a new  apportionment  was  made. 
This  was  done  in  1792,  and  was  made  upon  the  ratio 


ANDREW  JACKSON. 


SEVENTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STAGES. 


library 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


RATIO  OF  REPRESENTATION. 


113 


of  one  Representative  to  every  33,000  of  representative* 
population. 

5.  In  1800,  the  second  census  was  taken  ; and  when 
Congress  made  the  apportionment,  which  was  done  in 
1803,  it  did  not  change  the  ratio,  but  left  it  at  one 
Representative  to  every  33,000  of  the  representative 
population. 

In  1810,  the  third  census  was  taken,  and  in  1811  the 
ratio  was  fixed  at  one  Representative  for  every  35,000 
of  the  population. 

In  1820,  the  fourth  census  was  taken,  and  in  1822 
Congress  fixed  the  ratio  at  one  Representative  for 
every  40,000  of  the  population. 

In  1830,  the  fifth  census  was  taken,  and  in  1832  the 
ratio  was  fixed  at  one  Representative  to  every  47,000 
of  the  population. 

In  1840,  the  sixth  census  was  taken,  and  in  1842 
Congress  again  declared  that  the  ratio  should  be  one 
Representative  to  every  70,000  of  the  population. 

6.  In  1850,  the  seventh  census  was  taken,  and  in 
conformity  with  the  law  passed  this  year,  the  number 
of  members  was  for  the  first  time  limited;  the  limit 
being  233  ; and  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  was  or- 
dered to  take  the  census  returns,  and  divide  the  whole 
representative  population  by  the  number  233,  and  to 
make  the  quotient  the  ratio  between  the  Representa- 
tives and  the  people. 

7.  We  have  never  seen  the  result  of  the  Secretary’s 
estimate,  but,  taking  the  population  of  1850  and  di- 

* The  Representative  population  includes  all  free  persons,  white  or 
black;  to  which  (according  to  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution), 
three-fifths  of  all  the  slaves  were  to  be  added.  But  this  proviso,  now 
that  slavery  is  abolished,  has  become  a nullity. 


114  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

viding  it  by  233,  would  produce  a quotient  of  nearly 
94,000 ; and  this  we  take  as  the  ratio,  after  the  time 
when  it  was  done,  in  1852 ; that  is,  one  Representative 
to  every  94,000  of  the  population. 

8.  The  eighth  census  was  taken  in  1860,  and  on  it  the 
present  apportionment  is  based,  which  allows  one  Rep- 
resentative for  every  127,000  of  the  population. 

In  1850  Congress  adopted  the  principle  of  perma- 
nently fixing  the  number  of  members  of  Congress,  to 
save  the  trouble  of  doing  it  as  heretofore,  every  ten 
years.  An  act  was  passed  limiting  it  to  233 ; but  not- 
withstanding this  limitation,  it  was  provided  that  if  any 
new  State  came  in,  it  should  have  its  member,  which 
would  add  to  the  number.  But  this  increase  was  to 
continue  no  longer  than  until  the  next  apportionment, 
when  the  number  was  to  fall  back  again  to  the  old 
figure. 

But  ill  1862  this  law  was  modified  so  as  to  make  the 
whole  number  of  members  to  consist  of  241  after  the 
3d  of  March,  1863,  because  it  was  found  that  by  this 
number  a closer  approximation  to  an  equality  between 
the  States,  on  the  basis  of  their  population,  could  be 
attained  than  by  the  number  233.  And  here  it  stands 
now,  at  241,  with  its  numbers  apportioned  among  the 
several  States  as  follows : 


"Alabama, 

6 Mississippi, 

* 5 

Arkansas, 

3 Missouri, 

9 

California, 

3 New  Hampshire, 

3 

Connecticut, 

4 New  Jersey, 

5 

Delaware, 

1 New  York, 

31 

Florida, 

1 North  Carolina, 

7 

Georgia, 

7 Ohio, 

19 

RATIO 

OF  REPRESENTATION. 

115 

Illinois, 

14 

Oregon, 

Pennsylvania, 

1 

Indiana, 

11 

24 

Iowa, 

6 

Rhode  Island, 

2 

Kansas, 

1 

South  Carolina, 

4 

Kentucky, 

9 

Tennessee, 

8 

Louisiana, 

5 

Texas, 

4 

Maine, 

5 

Vermont, 

3 

Maryland, 

5 

Virginia, 

8 

Massachusetts, 

10 

West  Virginia, 

3 

Michigan, 

Minnesota, 

6 

2 

Wisconsin, 

6 

9.  Nevada  and  Nebraska  have  been  admitted  as 
States  since  this  apportionment,  with  one  member 
each,  so  that  the  House  in  1869  consisted  of  248  mem- 
bers; and  after  1870  according  to  the  present  law  the 
number  should  be  reduced  to  241.  But  it  must  be  borne 
in  mind  that  Congress  has  the  power  to  alter  all  this, 
and  to  enact  that  Congress  shall  consist  of  any  other 
number  of  members,  although  it  is  not  probable  that 
this  will  be  done  soon. 

10.  ¥e  have  taken  the  pains  to  make  all  the  fore- 
going statements,  not  so  much  to  show  how  the  House 
of  Representatives  is  now  organized,  as  to  show  the 
general  plan  upon  which  it  is  constituted,  and  to  show 
how  the  several  States  are  constantly  changing  the 
number  of  their  Representatives,  and  consequently 
their  relative  power  and  influence  in  Congress.  This 
can  be  readily  understood  by  remembering  the  fact 
that  new  States  come  into  the  Union  every  few  years, 
and  that  the  population  increases  much  more  rapidly 


116 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


in  the  Western  States  than  in  the  Eastern,  and  that, 
consequently,  the  West  is  rapidly  gaining  power  in 
Congress,  while  the  Atlantic  States  are  losing  it. 

11.  One  other  remark  in  regard  to  the  number  of 
members  of  which  the  House  is  composed,  may  prop- 
erly be  made  here ; and  that  is,  that  in  the  apportion- 
ment no  regard  is  had  to  the  Territories  or  to  their 
population.  In  this  adjustment,  the  States  and  their 
population  only  are  regarded,  and  the  number  of  mem- 
bers is  all  given  to  the  States.  Every  Representative 
from  a Territory  is  an  addition  to  that  number,  but  it 
must  be  remembered  that  a Territorial  member  has  no 
right  to  vote  on  any  question,  but  has  only  the  right  to 
debate ; and  for  this  reason  he  is  not,  in  the  fullest 
sense,  a member,  and  is  not  counted  in  adjusting  the 
number  of  which  the  House  is  made  to  consist. 


CENSUS. 


117 


CHAPTER  X5IX. 

Census. 

1.  A census  is  an  enumeration,  or  counting,  of  the 
inhabitants  of  any  country.  History  informs  us  that 
this  was  done  in  very  ancient  times.  One  of  the  hooks 
in  the  Old  Testament  (Numbers)  was  named  from  the 
circumstance  that  it  contains  an  account  of  the  num- 
bering of  the  Israelites,  by  the  order  of  Moses.  That 
numbering  was  a census  of  the  people  composing  the 
Jewish  nation.  It  not  only  gives  us  the  total  number 
of  the  people,  but  that  of  each  tribe;  much  after  our  own 
mode  of  doing  the  same  thing.  We  take  ours  by 
States,  and  we  find  the  total  of  the  whole  nation.  In 
ancient  times,  a census  seems  to  have  been  taken  more 
for  military  than  for  any  other  purpose.  This  is  one 
of  the  objects  in  the  present  day;  but  in  modern  times 
many  uses  are  made  of  a census.  It  not  only  shows 
the  military  power*  of  a nation,  but  when  taken  with 
the  distinctions  of  sex,  and  age,  with  an  account  of  the 
births,  marriages,  and  deaths  during  each  year,  it 
throws  much  light  upon  a variety  of  interesting  topics ; 
such  as  the  longevity,  the  rate  of  mortality,  the  ratio  of  in- 
crease and  the  average  duration  of  human  life.  These 
and  many  other  important  facts  are  obtained  by  a cen- 
sus. 

2.  In  the  United  States  the  census  is  the  only  means 
by  which  Congress  determines  the  number  of  Repre- 
sentatives each  State  is  entitled  to  have  in  that  body. 


118 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Hence  the  Constitution  itself  makes  provision  for  the 
enumeration  of  the  people  once  in  ten  years, — 
called  a decade.  The  first  was  made  in  1790,  the  next 
in  1800,  and  so  on  every  tenth  year.  If  the  number  of 
# any  year  ends  with  a cipher,  we  know  that  the  United 
States  census  was  taken,  or  will  he  taken  in  that  year, 
whether  we  look  backward  or  forward. 

3.  Up  to  the  present  time  (1871),  according  to 
the  provisions  made  in  the  Constitution,  a census 
has  been  taken  nine  times,  and  under  the  head  of  recap- 
itulation on  page  378  we  find  what  it  was  each  time. 
We  also  find  that  from  the  first  (1790),  to  the  last 
(1870),  the  population  had  increased  from  3,929,827,  to 
38,838,180.  Therefore  it  approximates  very  nearly  to 
40,000,000 ; indicating  a growth  unparalleled  by  any  na- 
tion in  ancient  or  modern  times. 

We  will  next  state  how  this  great  national  work  is 
performed.  The  Constitution  simply  declares  that  it 
shall  be  done,  but  the  laws  specify  how  it  shall  be  done, 
and  who  shall  do  it. 

The  United  States  Marshals  are  £he  officers  designa- 
ted by  the  law,  as  the  persons  who  shall  make  the 
enumeration  of  the  people  in  each  State  and  Territory; 
in  addition  to  which  they  are  also  required  to  procure 
other  statistical  matter,  as  directed  by  Congress. 

4.  In  order  to  accomplish  this  work,  it  is  necessary 
to  employ  a number  of  assistant  marshals,  one  of 
whom  must  visit  every  house  in  his  district,  and  as- 
certain the  number  of  persons  belonging  to  it,  together 
with  such  statistical  information  as  is  required.  This 


CENSUS. 


119 


is  all  returned  to  the  marshal,  and  by  him  sent  to  the 
Department  of  thelnterior  at  Washington,  where,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  it  is  made 
into  a report,  and  then  laid  before  Congress,  to  be  used 
by  it  in  apportioning  to  the  States  their  quota  of  Rep- 
resentatives. This  apportionment  is  actually  made  in 
the  Department  of  the  Interior,  and  then  laid  before 
Congress,  for  its  examination  and  approval.  The  mar- 
shal appoints  and  commissions  his  deputies,  who  must 
be  sworn  to  perform  the  duties  assigned  to  them,  to  the 
best  of  their  ability. 

5.  In  the  Department  of  the  Interior,  there  is  a board 
whose  duty  it  is  to  superintend  the  work  of  taking  the 
census.  It  prepares,  prints,  and  sends  to  every  mar- 
shal the  blanks  to  be  used  by  him  and  his  assistants  ; 
and  when  they  have  made  returns  of  their  work,  the 
board  arranges  them  preparatory  to  laying  them  be- 
fore Congress.  After  this  they  are  published,  and 
make  a very  valuable  work  of  reference  ; for  they 
contain  a vast  amount  of  statistical  information  ; such 
as  the  number  of  acres  of  land  under  cultivation,  the 
number  of  bushels  of  grain  of  every  kind  produced 
in  the  year  ; the  number  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  swine, 
&c.,  raised;  the  number  of  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, and  the  amount  of  their  productions ; the  num- 
ber of  churches,  schools,  colleges,  &c.;  the  number  of 
deaf,  blind,  idiotic  and  insane  persons;  together  with 
much  other  matter,  quite  too  voluminous  for  insertion 
here. 

6.  All  this  is  done  by  order  of  Congress,  and  of 
course  paid  for  from  the  United  States  Treasury. 


120 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


On  pages  378  and  379  we  give  a tabular  statement  of 
the  population  of  each  state  and  territory,  at  each  time 
the  census  has  been  taken  by  the  United  States.  It 
shows  the  increase  at  each  decade  from  1790,  the  first 
time  it  was  taken,  to  1870 — the  last  at  this  date  (1871). 
This  table  also  shows  the  increase  in  the  number  of 
states,  from  the  original  13  to  the  present  37,  besides 
the  territories,  which  alone  are  larger  than  the  original 
13  states,  and  nearly  as  numerous. 


UNITED  STATES  FLAG. 


121 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

The  United  States  Flag. 

1.  The  United  States  flag,  “ the  stars  and  stripes,” 
is  too  familiar  an  object  to  require  much  description; 
for  every  body  has  seen  it,  and  almost  every  one  has 
admired  it.  And  no  wonder,  for  it  is  the  handsomest 
flag  in  the  world, — Red,  "White  and  Blue; — those  al- 
ternate red  and  white  stripes  in  beautiful  contrast  with 
the  blue  field  bedecked  with  stars; — as  though  a piece 
of  the  sky  had  been  taken  to  add  more  beauty  to  our 
national  emblem  which  makes  it  in  truth,  u The  star- 
spangled  banner.” 

2.  But  there  is  a little  history  about  it,  which  it  is 
well  to  know.  In  1794,  when  there  were  only  fifteen 
States,  Congress  passed  an  act  declaring  that  the  flag 
of  the  United  States  should  consist  of  fifteen  stripes, 
alternate  red  and  white,  and  that  the  union  be  fifteen 
stars,  white  in  a blue  field.  The  stars  and  stripes  were 
by  this  act  to  be  equal  in  number.  But  this  act  was 
repealed  by  another,  passed  in  1818,  which  declared 
that  it  should  consist  of  only  thirteen  stripes,  alternate 
red  and  white;  and  that  the  Union  be  twenty  stars; 
and  that  upon  the  admission  of  every  new  State  into 
the  Union,  one  star  be  added  to  the  union  of  the  flag. 
This  has  been  done,  and  now  there  are  thirty-seven 
stars  in  the  blue  field.  By  this  arrangement  our  flag 
is,  and  always  will  be  emblematic  of  two  things ; the 
thirteen  stripes  indicate  the  thirteen  original  States, 
while  the  stars  show,  and  will  always  show,  the  num- 
bet  of  States  in  the  Federal  Union.  The  stars  will 
continue  to  increase  until  the  last  State  shall  be  added; 
and  when  thus  completed,  will  probably  form  a 
constellation  of  fifty  or  more  stars,  representing  so 
many  States. 


122 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

The  Laws  of  the  United  States. 

1.  A clearer  and  more  comprehensive  idea  of  the 
laws  under  which  we  live,  may  be  obtained  by  a sort 
of  analysis  of  them,  or  a division  of  them  into  their 
several  kinds.  By  this  process  we  shall  find  four  dif- 
ferent laws,  emanating  from  four  different  sources  or 
authorities;  each  having  the  powder  to  enact,  and  to 
demand  obedience  to  its  enactments. 

The  first  of  these  is  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  This  is  considered  as  an  enactment  of  the 
people  themselves ; for  it  was  made  by  their  Repre- 
sentatives chosen  for  that  purpose,  and  afterwards 
ratified  by  them  through  another  body  of  their  Repre- 
sentatives, viz.,  the  Legislatures  of  the  several  States. 
In  the  Constitution  itself  we  find  a large  body  of  laws, 
and  those  of  the  most  important  and  essential  character; 
for  they  not  only  bind  every  person  in  the  country, 
but  they  bind  Congress  itself,  which  is  the  law  making 
power  of  the  Government. 

2.  The  whole  body  of  the  law  found  in  the  Constitu- 
tion is  called  “ Constitutional  law.”  It  is  of  the  highest 
authority,  and  paramount  to  all  other  laws,  excepting 
the  laws  of  God.  Statute  laws  may  be  changed  or  repealed 
at  any  time  by  the  same  power  that  enacted  them,  but 
the  Constitution  cannot  be  changed  except  by  a vote  of 
two-thirds  of  both  Houses  of  Congress,  and  the  appro- 
val of  three-fourths  of  all  the  Legislatures  of  the  States 
in  the  Union.  Thus  it  takes  a long  time  to  change  or 


LAWS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  123 

amend  it,  and  no  one  body  of  men  can  alter  it;  but 
any  amendment  must  bare  the  approval  of  all  the 
Legislative  bodies  above  named.  Then  it  is  deemed 
to  have  been  sanctioned  by  three-fourths  of  the  people 
themselves,  for  it  is  done  by  their  immediate  Repre- 
sentatives. So  much,  for  one  kind  of  law. 

3.  The  next  in  order  are  the  laws  enacted  by  Con- 
gress. These,  like  all  laws  made  by  legislative  bodies 
are  denominated  statute  laws.  These  laws,  while  in 
force,  are  as  binding  as  those  found  in  the  Constitution. 
But  this  distinction  must  be  observed ; the  statutes  as 
before  stated  may  be  amended  or  wholly  repealed  at 
any  time  when  Congress  is  in  session,  and  may  be  set 
aside  by  the  Supreme  Court  in  case  they  are  found  to 
be  contrary  to  any  of  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution. 
All  the  laws  enacted  by  Congress,  unless  they  are  for 
some  local  object,  are  equally  binding  in  every  State 
and  Territory  of  the  United  States;  and  are  uniformly 
applied  and  executed  in  all,  by  the  United  States 
courts.  The  foregoing  remark  shows  us  the  wide  dif- 
ference between  an  act  of  Congress  which  extends  to, 
and  embraces  the  whole  national  domain  ; and  an  act 
of  a State  Legislature,  which  has  no  authority  or  power 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  State  where  it  was  enacted. 

4.  The  laws  contained  in  the  Constitution  are  few  in 
number  in  comparison  with  the  statute  laws.  These 
are  exceedingly  numerous,  and  are  made  to  meet  the 
necessities  and  wants  of  the  people  in  all  their  relations 
to  the  government  and  to  each  other  ; to  regulate  the 
army,  the  navy,  our  diplomatic  intercourse  with  foreign 
nations,  and  in  short  everything  which  requires  legis- 


124  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

lative  interference ; while  those  relate  only  to  the  fun- 
damental principles  on  which  the  government  is  based, 
and  may  be  compared  to  an  outline  map,  which  only 
shows  the  boundaries  and  some  of  the  principal  moun- 
tains, rivers,  cities  and  other  prominent  features  of  the 
" country  intended  to  be  delineated. 

5.  Thus  much  for  Constitutional  and  statute  laws. 
We  will  now  notice  another  kind,  quite  different  from 
either  in  the  mode  of  enactment,  but  just  as  binding 
on  Congress,  the  Executive,  the  Judiciary,  and  on  ev- 
ery citizen  as  any  Constitutional  provision,  or  act  of 
Congress.  We  mean  the  various  treaties  made  be- 
tween us  and  foreign  nations,  and  Indian  tribes.  Trea- 
ties when  made  and  ratified  by  the  respective  govern- 
ments by  which  they  are  made,  are  of  the  same  author- 
ity and  as  binding  upon  the  citizens  of  both  countries, 
as  any  Constitutional  or  statutory  law  in  existence  ; and 
any  violation  of  the  provisions  of  a treaty  between  us 
and  any  foreign  power  is  made  punishable,  as  much  as 
the  violation  of  any  statute  upon  the  books.  This  of 
course  applies  to  individual  citizens.  If  the  treaty  be 
violated  by  either  of  the  national  authorities,  it  then 
becomes  a subject  of  diplomatic  arrangement,  or  may 
lead  to  a war  between  the  governments  concerned.  We 
have  thus  disposed  of  the  third  kind  of  law,  according 
to  our  mode  of  division. 

6.  At  the  commencement  of  this  chapter  we  spoke 
of  four  kinds  of  laws  to  which  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States  are  subject.  The  three  already  noticed 
are  by  far  the  most  important,  whereas  the  fourth — the 
law  of  nations — are,  so  far  as  individuals  are  con- 


LAWS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


125 


cerned,  of  minor  importance,  as  they  relate  rather  to 
the  duties  of  governments  and  their  agents,  to  the  du- 
ties and  obligations  of  armies,  and  of  naval  command- 
ers in  times  of  war.  All  these,  with  many  other  mat- 
ters, are  regulated  according  to  the  law  of  nations, 
which  law  is  not  a series  of  enactments  of  any  law- 
making  power  of  any  government  upon  earth,  but  con- 
sists of  rules  laid  down  by  the  great  writers  upon  this 
subject,  as  rules  or  laws  which  should  regulate  the 
conduct  of  one  nation  towards  another,  according  to 
the  admitted  principles  of  right  and  humanity,  especi- 
ally in  times  of  war.  These  laws  and  principles  have 
been  approved  of  and  sanctioned  by  almost  all  civi- 
lized nations,  and  hence  have  been  denominated  “the 
law  of  nations/ ’ and  are  observed  by  all  governments 
of  civilized  countries  who  wish  to  sustain  an  honor- 
able character  among  the  family  of  nations.  The  vio- 
lation of  the  law  of  nations  exposes  the  violator  to  the 
condemnation  of  the  world,  and  to  the  danger  of  re- 
taliation by  war  with  the  injured  nation. 

7.  While  on  the  subject  of  laws,  it  will  not  be  irrele- 
vant to  say  that  the  United  States  courts,  and  especi- 
ally the  Supreme  Court,  are  the  expounders  of  the 
laws  of  the  country,  and  of  the  “ law  of  nations”  when- 
ever they  apply  to  matters  in  which  our  government 
or  our  citizens  are  concerned.  The  courts  themselves 
make  no  laws,  but  by  their  decisions  in  cases  adjudi- 
cated by  them,  they  declare  what  is  the  true  meaning 
and  intention  of  the  Constitution  and  the  laws.  They 
declare  how  these  should  be  understood,  construed 
and  applied.  Hence  the  decisions  of  the  courts  are 


126  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

regarded  with  almost  as  much  deference  as  the  laws 
themselves,  determining,  as  they  do,  the  interpretation 
and  true  meaning  of  them. 

8.  In  the  foregoing  remarks  we  have  made  no  allu- 
sion to  the  laws  of  the  States,  which  have  no  authority 
or  power  outside  of  the  State  by  which  they  are 
enacted;  and  shall  not  do  so  now,  as  it  would  be  foreign 
to  the  object  of  our  work.  We  therefore  will  close 
the  chapter  on  this  subject  with  the  addition  of  a single 
remark,  that  every  person  in  the  United  States  lives 
under  two  distinct  and  separate  governments  and  codes 
of  law,  viz. : First,  the  United  States  government  and 
its  laws;  and,  second,  the  government  and  laws  of  the 
State  where  he  resides. 

9.  But  how  is  a conflict  between  the  laws  of  the 
United  States  and  the  laws  of  the  States  avoided  ? 

Answer — By  the  following  Constitutional  provision, 
found  in  the  sixth  article  of  that  instrument,  and  in 
these  words : 

“This  Constitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States , 
which  shall  be  made  in  pursuance  thereof,  and  all  trea- 
ties made  or  which  shall  be  made  under  the  authority 
of  the  United  States,  shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the  land , 
and  the  judges  in  every  State  shall  be  bound  thereby, 
anything  in  the  Constitution  or  laws  of  any  State  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding.,,  This  answers  the  question. 
The  Constitution,  treaties  with  foreign  nations,  and 
the  laws  enacted  by  Congress,  are  supreme,  and  over- 
ride any  law  passed  by  any  State,  if  it  conflicts  with 
any  of  these.  The  United  States  courts,  and  the 
courts  of  any  State,  are  bound  to  disregard  and  set 
aside  any  State  law  in  case  it  is  found  to  be  contrary 
to  the  United  States  laws. 


NATURALIZATION  LAWS. 


127 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Naturalization  Laws. 

1.  By  far  the  greater  part  of  the  people  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  are  natives  of  the  country,  and  are,  conse- 
quently, citizens  by  birthright.  They  have  all  the 
rights  and  privileges  which  the  government  affords, 
without  being  required  to  do  anything  to  procure  them. 
A native  citizen  has  the  right  to  vote,  the  right  to  buy, 
bold  and  sell  lands,  and  the  right  to  protection  by  his 
government  when  in  a foreign  country  or  upon  the 
high  seas.  But  an  alien  does  not  enjoy  these  rights. 
An  alien  is  one  who  was  born  in  some  foreign  country, 
and  before  he  can  be  a citizen,  he  must  remain  in  the 
country  at  least  five  years;  and  then  must,  in  addition  to 
this,  do  such  things  as  our  naturalization  laws  require  of 
him.  After  he  has  done  this  he  becomes  a citizen, 
and  has  all  the  rights  of  a native,  with  this  excep- 
tion— he  never  can  be  President  or  Vice  President  of 
the  United  States,  because  the  Constitution  positively 
declares  that  both  of  these  high  officers  shall  be  native 
citizens,  and  the  one  exception  to  this  provision  has  no 
application  now. 

2.  The  United  States  have  always  pursued  a very 
liberal  policy  towards  aliens,  or  foreigners,  as  they  are 
sometimes  called,  for  they  have  enacted  laws  easily 
complied  with,  by  which  any  alien  may  become  a citi- 
zen, after  which  he  possesses  the  same  rights  as  a 
native,  with  the  exception  before  stated. 

9 


128 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


WHAT  AN  ALIEN  MUST  DO  TO  BECOME  A CITIZEN. 

3.  The  Constitution  authorizes  Congress  to  pass 
such  laws  as  it  may  judge  right  and  proper  on  the  sub- 
ject of  naturalization.  This  has  been  done  from  time 
to  time.  The  first  act  of  this  kind  was  passed  in  1790, 
since  which  various  other  acts  have  been  passed 
modifying  the  first. 

An  alien,  in  order  to  become  a citizen,  must  go  be- 
fore some  United  States  court,  or  some  court  of  record 
of  some  State,  at  least  two  years  before  his  admission, 
and  then  and  there  declare  under  oath  that  it  is  his  in- 
tention  to  become  a citizen  of  the  United  States,  and 
must  renounce  all  allegiance  and  fidelity  to  any  foreign 
prince,  potentate,  State  or  sovereignty  whatever,  and 
particularly  by  name,  the  prince,  potentate,  State  or 
sovereignty  whereof  such  alien  may,  at  the  time,  be  a 
citizen  or  subject. 

4.  And  at  the  time  he  is  admitted  he  must,  before 
some  of  the  courts  before  named,  again  swear  to  the 
same  things,  with  the  addition  that  he  will  support 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  When  all  this 
is  done,  the  court  before  whom  the  oath  is  taken,  and 
the  renunciation  made,  makes  a record  of  the  proceed- 
ings, and  gives  the  person  naturalized  a certificate  that 
he  was  made  a citizen  by  the  said  court  at  the  time 
and  place  therein  named.  This  certificate  gives  him 
all  the  rights  of  citizenship  in  any  State  or  Territory 
in  the  United  States.  All  laws  relating  to  naturaliza- 
tion are  made  by  Congress.  No  State  has  the  right 
to  pass  any  law  on  this  subject.  Yet  Congress  confers 
authority  on  the  State  courts  to  naturalize  an  alien. 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


NATURALIZATION  LAWS. 


129 


Indeed,  State  courts  naturalize  more  than  the  United 
States  courts.  But  Congress  should  not  allow  State 
courts  to  naturalize  at  all,  because  such  monstrous 
frauds  have  been  perpetrated  by  them  in  some  of  the 
States. 

5.  In  addition  to  what  we  have  said  on  this  subject, 
it  should  be  stated  that  an  alien  must,  in  all  cases,  have 
lived  in  the  country  five  years  before  he  can  be  admit- 
ted to  citizenship.  But  in  1862  an  act  was  passed 
making  an  exception  to  this  requirement  in  favor  of 
any  person  who  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and 
had  enlisted,  or  who  should  thereafter  enlist  in  the 
army,  and  be  honorably  discharged  therefrom.  In 
such  cases,  a good  moral  character,  with  one  year’s 
residence,  without  any  previous  declaration  of  intention, 
was  sufficient.  Our  naturalization  laws  require  good 
moral  character  in  all  cases  of  those  who  apply  for  ad- 
mission to  citizenship.  But  the  courts  have  been  ex- 
ceedingly remiss  in  this  matter,  and  almost  everybody 
who  makes  application  is  admitted  to  this  exalted  privi- 
lege without  any  regard  to  the  character  of  the  appli- 
cant. 

The  law  requires  that  if  an  alien  has  borne  any  title 
of  nobility  in  the  country  from  whence  he  came,  he 
must  renounce  such  title  before  he  can  be  made  a citi- 
zen of  the  United  States. 

6.  There  is  an  exception  to  what  is  above  stated  in 
the  definition  of  an  alien;  that  is,  that  he  is  one  who 
was  born  in  some  foreign  country.  A child  may  be  born 
out  of  the  United  States;  yet  if  its  parents,  at  the  time 
of  its  birth,  were  citizens,  the  child  is  also  a citizen  by 


130  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

virtue  of  its  parent’s  citizenship,  and,  consequently, 
never  needs  naturalization  to  possess  all  the  rights  it 
would  have,  had  it  been  bom  in  the  United  States. 

7.  In  this  connection  another  provision  of  our  natu- 
ralization laws  should  be  noticed;  and  that  is,  that 
children  born  in  a foreign  country,  and  of  foreign 
parentage,  become  citizens  of  the  United  States  with- 
out personal  naturalization,  upon  the  following  condi- 
tions: j First,  that  they  came  into  the  country  before 
they  are  twenty-one  years  of  age;  and  Second , that 
their  father  became  a naturalized  citizen  before  they 
have  reached  that  age — that  is,  the  naturalization  of 
the  father  makes  all  his  children  citizens  who  reside 
in  the  country,  and  are  under  the  age  of  twenty-one 
at  the  time  of  the  parent’s  naturalization.  This  is  a 
very  liberal  provision  of  the  law  in  favor  of  the  minor 
children  of  those  who  become  citizens. 


NEUTRALITY  LAWS. 


131 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Neutrality  Laws. 

1.  The  neutrality  laws  of  the  United  States,  like 
those  of  other  nations  which  have  enacted  them,  have 
the  same  design  and  are  intended  to  accomplish  the 
same  object;  which  is,  to  preserve  peace,  and  to  main- 
tain friendly  relations  with  other  nations,  States  or 
powers.  It  is  the  duty,  the  interest,  and  should  be  the 
policy  of  all  governments,  to  live  in  peace  with  other 
nations,  whenever  it  can  be  done  without  the  sacrifice 
of  honor  or  self-preservation.  It  is  the  duty  of  every 
government  so  to  control  the  actions  of  its  own  citi- 
zens or  subjects,  as  not  to  allow  them  to  perpetrate 
such  acts  towards  other  governments  as  would  tend  to 
embroil  the  two  countries  in  a war,  or  to  disturb  their 
friendly  relations  and  intercourse. 

The  most  civilized  and  enlightened  nations  have  for 
this  purpose  enacted  neutrality  laws,  which  if  obeyed 
by  the  citizens  of  the  country  that  enacts  them,  do 
much  to  prevent  wars  and  unfriendly  feelings  between 
nations. 

2.  A single  illustration  will,  perhaps,  place  the 
whole  scope,  design  and  nature  of  neutrality  laws  in  a 
clearer  light,  than  a verbose  recital  of,  or  commentary 
upon  their  provisions.  Our  illustration  may  be  thus 
put;  A,  B and  C,  we  suppose  to  be  three  different  na- 
tions. A and  B are  at  war  with  each  other,  but  both 
on  friendly  terms  with  C.  Now  C,  by  her  neutrality 


132 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


laws,  prohibits  her  citizens  or  subjects  within  her  ter- 
ritory from  enlisting  or  fitting  out  men,  or  organizing 
any  expedition  by  sea  or  land  to  aid  either  of  the 
belligerent  nations,  A or  B;  because  this  would  be  a 
hostile  act  towards  the  other,  and  might  lead  to  a war 
between  it  and  C. 

The  neutrality  laws  of  the  United  States,  now  in 
force,  were  enacted  in  1818,  and  are  very  similar  in 
their  provisions  to  laws  of  other  nations  upon  the  same 
subject,  and  are  declaratory  of  the  pre-existing  laws  of 
nations. 

3.  These  laws,  however,  do  not  prohibit  the  citizens 
of  the  United  States  from  leaving  their  country,  and 
then  enlisting  or  engaging  in  war  upon  either  side. 
It  does  not  prohibit  a citizen  from  leaving  his  country; 
and  after  he  has  left  it,  the  government  has  no  control 
over  him.  Hence,  in  spite  of  neutrality  laws,  it-is  no 
uncommon  thing  to  find  the  subjects  of  governments 
engaging  in  a war  against  a nation  with  which  their 
own  government  is  at  peace.  The  violation  of  the 
law  consists  in  accepting  an  office,  or  enlisting,  or  pro- 
curing enlistments  or  fitting  out  expeditions  by  sea  or 
land,  while  in  the  United  States. 

By  our  law  this  is  declared  to  be  a high  misde- 
meanor, and  is  punishable  by  fine  and  imprisonment. 
The  President  of  the  United  States  is  authorized  to 
employ  either  the  land  or  naval  force  of  the  country 
to  prevent  any  hostile  expedition  against  any  nation, 
state,  colony  or  people,  which  are  at  peace  with  us. 


ELECTIONS. 


133 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Elections. 

1.  One  of  the  cardinal  principles  upon  which  our 
government  is  founded,  and  one  to  which  the  people 
adhere  with  the  greatest  tenacity,  is  that  governments 
derive  their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  gov- 
erned ; and  although  all  the  people  cannot  in  person 
be  present  to  approve  or  to  disapprove  of  the  laws  by 
which  they  are  to  be  governed,  yet  under  our  form  of 
government  we  approximate  as  nearly  to  such  a con- 
dition of  things  as  is  practicable.  This  is  effected  by 
the  Representative  system.  A few  are  chosen  who 
represent  the  wishes  and  sentiments  of  the  many 

The  men  chosen  to  make  and  administer  our  laws, 
are  not  so  chosen  from  the  personal  regard  the  people 
have  for  them ; but  for  the  principles  they  are  known 
to  entertain,  and  which  correspond  with  those  of  the 
people  who  choose  them.  The  Representative  is 
bound  to  carry  out  the  sentiments  of  those  who  elect 
him,  and  to  do  what  they  would  do  if  they  acted  for 
themselves. 

2.  From  this  principle  it  becomes  a matter  of  the 
first  importance  to  know  what  the  will  of  the  people 
is  in  regard  to  the  various  questions  which  arise  from 
time  to  time,  relating  to  the  policy  of  the  government, 
and  the  laws  to  be  enacted  to  carry  out  that  policy. 
The  means  used  to  determine  these  questions  are  our 
elections.  These  are  looked  to  with  great  interest, 


134 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


and  sometimes  with  great  excitement,  as  they  furnish 
the  only  occasions  in  which  the  mass  of  the  people 
can  act  upon  the  government,  by  electing  such  men 
as  they  want  to  make  and  administer  their  laws. 
Hence  at  the  close  of  our  elections  it  is  pretty  well 
known  what  measures  are  to  be  pursued,  by  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  men  elected. 

3.  These  remarks,  however,  apply  with  greater  force 
to  the  State  governments,  and  to  the  election  of  State 
officers  than  to  the  officers  of  the  United  States  ; for 
Congressmen  are  indeed  the  only  officials  in  the  gene- 
ral government  for  whom  the  people  directly  vote. 
Though  it  is  often  said  that  the  President  is  elected  by 
them,  this  is  not  strictly  correct.  The  people  do  not 
vote  directly  for  either  President  or  Vice  President. 
They  vote  for  electors,  and  these  electors  vote  for  those 
officers.  This,  it  is  true,  is  but  a circuitous  way  of 
reaching  the  same  result ; for  the  electors  have  always 
faithfully  carried  out  the  wishes  of  their  constituents, 
and  voted  for  the  same  candidates  for  whom  the 
people  would  have  voted  if  our  constitutional  forms 
allowed  them  to  vote  directly  for  these  candi- 
dates, without  the  intervening  and  cumbrous  ma- 
chinery of  Presidential  electors.  We  think  a great 
improvement  in  the  modus  operandi  would  be  effected 
by  such  a change  in  our  Constitution  as  would  give 
the  election  directly  to  the  people. 

4.  There  is  some  analogy  between  the  election  of 
the  President  and  the  election  of  the  United  States 
Senators.  In  the  first  instance  the  people  choose 
electors,  and  these  elect  the  President;  in  the  latter, 


ELECTIONS. 


185 


the  people  elect  the  members  of  their  Legislatures, 
and  these  elect  the  Senators.  Then,  as  to  the  other 
officers  of  the  general  government,  they  are  appointed 
by  their  superiors : the  most  important  ones  by  thz 
President,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
Senate,  and  the  minor  ones  by  the  heads  of  depart- 
ments, or  some  one  higher  in  rank  than  the  appointees. 
Thus  we  see  that,  with  the  exception  of  the  members 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  people  do  not 
vote  directly  for  any  of  the  officials  of  the  United 
States  government.  Yet  by  this  kind  of  proxy  vote, 
about  the  same  result  is  obtained. 

5.  Of  all  our  elections  none  is  considered  of  so  much 
importance  as  the  Presidential.  These  come,  as  before 
said,  every  four  years,  because  the  Constitution  pro- 
vides that  the  term  for  which  a President  is  chosen, 
shall  be  four  years.  We  have  thought  it  would  be 
quite  interesting  to  some  of  our  readers,  and  at  the 
same  time  would  help  to  preserve  the  political  history 
of  our  nation,  to  give  a brief  account  of  each  Presiden- 
tial election,  together  with  the  names  of  the  candidates 
and  some  of  the  prominent  circumstances  connected 
with  them.  This  will  be  found  in  the  following  chap- 
ter, and  we  hope  will  materially  aid  those  who  wish  to 
know  something  of  the  men  and  times  gone  by.  Our 
elections,  both  for  the  general  and  State  governments, 
are  by  ballot,  instead  of  viva  voce , (the  living  voice),  as 
in  some  countries. 

The  ballot  is  a small  piece  of  paper,  with  the  name 
of  the  candidate  or  candidates  printed  or  written  upon 
it,  and  then  folded  in  such  a manner  as  to  hide  them, 


136  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

so  that  no  one  but  the  voter  can  tell  what  names  are 
on  his  ballot.  A vote  by  viva  voce,  is  when  the  voter, 
in  the  presence  of  the  inspectors  of  the  election,  audi- 
bly and  clearly  calls  out  the  name  of  the  candidate  for 
whom  he  votes,  and  thus  proclaims  in  the  hearing  of 
all  present  how  he  votes.  But  the  ballot  enables  the 
voter  to  vote  secretly  if  he  chooses  to  do  so. 

6.  Our  elections  for  President,  for  Congressmen,  for 
Governors  of  the  several  States  and  their  respective 
Legislatures,  are  more  exciting  than  those  for  other 
minor  officers.  Much  is  said  and  much  is  written  of  a 
very  inflammatory  character.  The  liberty  of  the  press 
and  the  liberty  of  speech  are  most  shamefully  perver- 
ted, sometimes  into  abuse  and  slander.  When  these 
vicious  practices  shall  cease,  as  we  hope  they  will,  the 
government  will  stand  on  firmer  ground  than  it  now 
does. 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTIONS. 


187 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Presidential  Elections,  with  notices  of  Facts 
and  Circumstances  connected  with  them. 

The  convention  which  formed  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  fixed  upon  the  first  Wednesday  of  Jan- 
uary, 1789,  for  the  election  of  the  first  Presidential 
electors,  and  the  first  Wednesday  of  February  of  the 
same  year  for  the  election  of  the  first  President,  and 
the  first  Wednesday  of  March  (which  was  the  fourth), 
for  putting  the  new  government  into  operation.  The 
election  of  the  electors,  and  of  the  President  by  them, 
were  carried  out  to  the  letter ; but  the  government 
did  not  get  into  operation  until  the  30th  April,  nearly 
two  months  after  the  specified  time,  for  the  elected 
Members  of  Congress  were  tardy  in  convening  at  New 
York  (the  place  fixed  upon  for  the  first  session) ; and 
it  was  not  until  the  30th  of  April,  that  Washington 
was  inaugurated  as  President.  But  as  the  fourth  of 
March  was  the  time  which  it  was  intended  that  it 
should  take  place,  it  was  reckoned  as  the  date  from 
which  Washington’s  administration  commenced;  and 
the  date  both  of  the  commencement  and  termina- 
tion of  every  Presidential  term  since.  Hence,  the 
fourth  of  March  of  every  fourth  year  is  an  important 
epoch  in  our  political  history,  as  it  is  the  time  when  a 
new  administration  comes  into  power,  or  the  com- 
mencement of  the  second  term  of  an  incumbent  who 
has  been  re-elected. 


138 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


FIRST  ELECTION,  1789. 

George  Washington  was  unanimously  elected  Presi- 
dent, and  John  Adams,  Vice  President.  The  Vice 
Presidency  at  this  and  the  three  succeeding  elections, 
was  determined  according  to  the  provisions  of  the 
Constitution,  as  it  then  stood ; which  were,  that  the 
candidate  for  President  who  received  the  high- 
est number  of  votes  should  be  President ; and  he  who 
received  the  next  highest  should  be  Vice  President. 
But  this  provision  was  changed  by  the  twelfth  amend- 
ment, proposed  in  1803,  which  went  into  effect  at  the 
next  election,  1804.  Previous  to  that  we  hear  nothing 
of  any  candidate  for  Vice  President.  By  the  provis- 
ions of  said  amendment,  the  electors  vote  one  name  for 
President  and  another  for  Vice  President.  But  pre- 
vious to  that,  the  electors  voted  for  two  candidates  with- 
out designating  which  for  President,  or  which  for  Vice 
President,  knowing  that  the  one  receiving  the  largest 
number  would  have  the  first  place,  and  the  next  high- 
est the  second.  This  caused  much  confusion  and  un- 
certainty as  to  the  intentions  of  the  electors.  After 
four  elections  conducted  upon  this  plan,  the  Constitu- 
tion was  amended ; since  which,  without  change,  all 
the  elections  have  been  conducted  as  directed  in  this 
amendment. 

In  our  comments  on  the  first  election  we  may  as  well 
notice  another  great  change  which  has  gradually  taken 
place  in  regard  to  the  mode  of  choosing  the  electors. 
The  Constitution  says  that  the  Presidential  electors 
shall  be  appointed,  in  each  State,  in  such  manner  as 
the  Legislature  thereof  shall  direct.  Now  this  left  the 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTIONS. 


139 


Legislature  with  power  to  appoint  them  itself,  or  to 
order  their  appointment  or  election  in  any  other  way. 
The  electors  for  the  first  Presidential  election,  we 
think  (though  we  have  seen  no  historical  record  of  the 
fact),  were  all  chosen  by  the  State  Legislatures ; but 
soon  after  we  find  that  different  methods  were  used  in 
different  States.  In  some,  the  Legislatures  chose  them  ; 
in  others  they  were  elected  -y  popular  vote ; and  it 
seems  that  this  plan  was  the  one  most  approved  of,  for  it 
finally  became  almost  universal,  and  was  adopted  by  ev- 
ery State  except  South  Carolina,  which  never  did  give 
this  election  to  the  people,  (at  least  not  before  the  recent 
war).  For  these  reasons  we  cannot  give  the  popular 
vote  of  the  earlier  Presidential  elections,  as  we  have 
done  of  those  in  later  years ; because  the  people  in 
several  of  the  States  did  not  directly  vote  for  electors. 
When  we  have  given  it,  it  must  be  remembered  that 
South  Carolina  is  not  included. 

But  eleven  States  participated  in  the  first  election. 
North  Carolina  and  Rhode  Island  had  not  at  this  time 
ratified  the  Constitution;  consequently  they  could 
take  no  part  in  it.  At  this  time  political  parties  were 
very  indistinctly  defined.  The  only  noticable  political 
difference  consisted  in  approval  or  disapproval  of  the 
new  Constitution.  Its  friends  were  called  Federalists, 
among  whom  Washington  was  numbered.  Those  who 
had  opposed  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  were 
called  anti-Federalists.  At  the  first  election  there 
were  but  sixty-nine  electors. 

SECOND  ELECTION,  1792. 

Washington  and  Adams  were  both  re-elected  to 


140 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


the  same  positions  for  a second  term.  Washington 
was  again  unanimously  elected.  Vermont  and  Ken- 
tucky had  both  been  admitted  into  the  Union  since 
the  last  election ; which  made  fifteen  States  that  took 
part  in  this.  At  the  second  election  there  were  one 
hundred  and  thirty-two  electors. 

THIRD  ELECTION,  1796. 

There  were  four  candidates  in  the  field  at  this  time 
for  the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States,  viz.: 
John  Adams,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Aaron  Burr  and 
Thomas  Pinckney. 

Adams  received  71  electoral  votes. 

Jefferson  “ 69  “ “ 

Pinckney  “ 59  “ “ 

Burr  “ 38  “ “ 

This  result  made  Adams  President,  and  Jefferson 
Vice  President. 

A new  State — Tennessee — had  been  admitted  since 
the  last  election,  which  made  sixteen  in  the  Union  at 
this  time. 

FOURTH  ELECTION,  1800. 

The  same  four  candidates  were  again  in  the  field  at 
this  election;  Adams  and  Pinckney  as  Federalists,  and 
Jefferson  and  Burr  as  anti-Federalists,  who  about  this 
time  took  the  name  of  Republicans. 

Jefferson  and  Burr  received  73  of  the  electoral  votes. 

Adams  “64  “ 

Pinckney  “ 63  “ 

No  one  having  received  a majority,  the  election,  ac- 
cording to  the  provisions  made  in  the  Constitution, 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTIONS. 


141 


went  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  for  the  first  time. 
The  result  was  that  Jefferson  was  elected  President, 
and  Aaron  Burr,  Vice  President.  This  result  was  not 
effected  until  the  thirty-sixth  ballot,  and  occupied 
seven  days.  The  contest  was  between  Jefferson  and 
Burr,  the  two  candidates  who  had  received  the  highest 
vote  of  the  electors. 

No  new  States  had  been  admitted  since  the  last  elec- 
tion, so  there  were  but  sixteen  which  participated  in 
this. 

The  result  of  this  election  proved  the  complete  over- 
throw of  the  Federal  party;  and  it  never  regained  its 
power. 

FIFTH  ELECTION,  1804. 

The  twelfth  amendment  of  the  Constitution  having 
been  duly  ratified  before  this  election,  we  now,  in  ac- 
cordance with  its  provisions,  for  the  first  time  find 
candidates  for  the  Vice  Presidency  brought  forward. 

Mr.  Burr  having  been  dropped,  Thomas  Jefferson 
and  George  Clinton  were  put  forth  by  the  Republicans 
for  President  and  Vice  President,  and  Charles  C. 
Pinckney  and  Rufus  King  by  the  Federalists,  for  the 
same  positions. 

Jefferson  and  Clinton  each  received  162  of  the  elec- 
toral votes. 

Pinckney  and  King  only  received  14  votes. 

The  admission  of  Ohio,  in  1802,  made  seventeen 
States  in  the  Union  at  this  election. 

SIXTH  ELECTION,  1808. 

Mr.  Jefferson,  after  having  served  two  terms,  re- 
tired; and  James  Madison  was  nominated  by  the 


142  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Republican  party  for  President.  "With  this  change{ 
candidates  were  the  same  on  both  sides  as  at  the  forme/ 
election. 

Madison  received  122  electoral  votes  for  President, 
and  Clinton  113  for  Vice  President. 

The  latter  died  April  20,  1812,  and  consequently 
did  not  serve  out  his  full  second  term. 

Pinckney  and  King  each  received  47  electoral  votes. 

No  new  State  had  been  admitted  since  the  last  elec- 
tion; consequently  but  seventeen  States  participated 
in  Madison’s  first  election. 

SEVENTH  ELECTION,  1812. 

Mr.  Madison  was  re-elected  President  and  Elbridge 
Gerry,  Vice  President.  But  he  died  on  the  twenty- 
third  of  November,  1814,  leaving  the  Vice  Presidency 
vacant  for  the  second  time  during  Madison’s  adminis- 
tration. Mr.  Madison’s  second  term  was  distinguished 
on  account  of  the  second  war  with  England,  which 
continued  from  1812  to  1815. 

De  Witt  Clinton  and  Jared  Ingersoll  were  run  in 
opposition  to  Madison  and  Gerry,  who  received  each 
128  electoral  votes.  Clinton  89,  and  Ingersoll  57. 

There  were  eighteen  States  at  this  time.  Louisiana 
had  been  admitted  since  the  last  election. 

EIGHTH  ELECTION,  1816. 

The  same  party  which  had  twice  elected  Jefferson, 
and  twice  elected  Madison,  now  put  James  Monroe  up 
as  their  candidate  for  President,  and  Daniel  D.  Tomp- 
kins for  Vice  President. 

A very  feeble  opposition  was  made  by  the  Federalists, 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTIONS. 


143 


who  again  nominated  and  ran  Rufus  King.  But  he 
only  received  34  votes,  while  Monroe  received  183. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  year,  Indiana  was  admitted 
as  a State,  making  nineteen  in  the  Union  at  this 
election. 

NINTH  ELECTION,  1820. 

Monroe  and  Tompkins  were  both  re-elected  without 
opposition.  Their  term  of  office  did  not  expire  until 
the  4th  of  March,  1825,  making  twenty-four  years  in 
succession  during  which  the  Republicans  (who 
about  this  time  denominated  themselves  Democrats), 
had  held  the  reins  of  government  in  their  hands.  All 
three  of  the  Presidents  held  the  office  for  two  terms, 
and  were  all  Virginians. 

Between  1816  and  1820,  four  new  States  had  been 
admitted,  viz. : Mississippi,  Illinois,  Alabama,  and 
Maine,  making  twenty-three  which  took  a part  in  Mr. 
Monroe’s  second  election. 

TENTH  ELECTION,  1824. 

At  this  time  there  were  four  candidates  for  the  office 
of  President,  viz. : 

Andrew  Jackson,  who  received  99  of  the  electoral  votes. 
John  Quincy  Adams,  “ 84  “ “ 

William  H.  Crawford,  “ 41  “ “ 

Henry  Clay,  “ 31  “ “ 

Neither  of  the  candidates  having  received  a majority, 
the  election  for  the  second  time  went  to  the  House, 
where  the  vote  was  taken  by  States,  Adams  receiving 
13,  Jackson  7,  and  Crawford  4 votes.  Mr  Adams  was 
elected  President. 

John  C.  Calhoun,  against  whom  there  had  been  very 
10 


144 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


little  opposition,  had  been  elected  by  the  electors  by  a 
large  majority. 

Twenty-four  States  participated  in  this  election,  Mis- 
souri having  been  admitted  since  the  last.  But  only 
eighteen  of  them  chose  their  electors  by  popular  vote. 
Six  of  them  continued  to  elect  them  by  their  Legis- 
latures. 

ELEVENTH  ELECTION,  1828. 

At  this  election  Andrew  Jackson  succeeded  to  the 
Presidency,  and  John  C.  Calhoun  was  re-elected  Vice 
President. 

The  opposition  candidate  for  President  was  John 
Quincy  Adams,  and  for  Vice  President,  Richard 
Rush. 

Jackson  received  650,028  of  the  popular,  and  178  of 
the  electoral  votes;  and  Adams  received  512,158  of  the 
popular,  and  83  of  the  electoral  votes.  This  was  per- 
haps the  most  strongly  contested  and  most  bitter  elec- 
tion that  ever  transpired  in  this  country. 

Ho  new  State  had  been  admitted  since  1824,  so 
there  were  but  twenty-four  States  in  the  Union  at  this 
election. 

TWELFTH  ELECTION,  1832. 

Andrew  Jackson  was  re-elected  President,  and  Mar- 
tin Van  Buren  Vice  President,  by  the  Democratic 
party. 

Henry  Clay  was  the  opposing  Whig  candidate  for 
the  Presidency,  and  John  Sergeant,  of  Pennsylvania, 
for  the  Vice  Presidency. 

Of  the  popular  vote,  Jackson  received  682,502 
“ Clay  « 550,189 


Jackson’s  majority,  132,313 


NINTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTIONS.  145 

Of  the  electoral  vote,  Jackson  received  219,  and 
Clay,  49. 

There  had  been  no  increase  of  States  since  the  last 
election,  so  but  twenty-four  States  voted  at  this. 

THIRTEENTH  ELECTION,  1836. 

The  Democrats  nominated  their  Vice  President  for 
the  office  of  President,  and  Richard  M.  Johnson,  for 
that  of  Vice  President,  at  this  election. 

Gen.  William  Henry  Harrison  and  several  other 
candidates,  without  concert  of  action  or  unanimity  of 
design,  were  run  in  opposition  to  Yan  Buren,  but  he 
had  a majority  over  all. 

The  popular  vote  stood  for  Yan  Buren,  762,149 

For  Harrison  and  others,  736,736 

Yan  Buren’s  majority,  25,413 

Michigan  and  Arkansas  were  admitted  early  in  this 
year,  which  made  twenty-six  States  at  the  period  of 
this  election. 

FOURTEENTH  ELECTION,  1840. 

The  same  candidates  were  again  nominated  at  this 
election  that  ran  at  the  last ; with  this  exception,  that 
the  Whigs  dropped  all  othersand  concentrated  on  Gen- 
eral Harrison. 

Hence  the  opposing  ticket  stood  : 

Whig — William  Henry  Harrison,  for  President,  and 
John  Tyler  for  Yice  President. 

Democratic — Martin  Yan  Buren,  for  President,  and 
Richard  M.  Johnson,  for  Yice  President. 


146 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


The  popular  vote  showed  this  result : 

For  Harrison,  1,274,783 

“ Van  Buren,  1,128,702 

Harrison’s  majority,  46,081 

This  was  one  of  the  most  exciting  elections  ever 
known  in  the  United  States.  The  Whigs  adopted  the 
practice  of  singing  political  songs  at  their  meetings. 
It  was  called  46  The  Log-Cabin  and  Hard-Cider  Cam- 
paign,” because  the  Whigs  built  log  cabins  and  held 
their  meetings  in  them,  and  drank  hard  cider,  to  bur- 
lesque the  remark  of  a Democrat,  that  General  Harri- 
son lived  in  a log  cabin  and  drank  hard  cider. 

He  lived  only  one  month  and  two  days  after  his  in- 
auguration; and  John  Tyler  became  acting  President, 
in  conformity  with  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution, 
which  were  now  applied  for  the  first  time  since  the  gov- 
ernment was  established. 

No  new  State  had  been  added  since  1836,  so  that  the 
same  number  acted  in  this  election,  as  took  part  in  the 
previous  one,  viz. : twenty-six. 

FIFTEENTH  ELECTION,  1844. 

The  Whig  and  Democratic  parties  placed  themselves 
in  battle  array,  with  Henry  Clay  as  candidate  for  Pres- 
ident, and  Theodore  Frelinghuysen  for  Vice  President, 
on  the  side  of  the  Whigs;  and  James  K.  Polk,  for 
President,  and  George  M.  Dallas  for  Vice  President,  on 
the  Democratic  side. 

The  popular  vote  at  this  election  showed  the  follow- 
ing result: 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTIONS. 


147 


For  Polk  and  Dallas,  1,335,884 

“ Clay  and  Frelingkuysen,  1,297,033 

Polk’s  majority,  38,801 

The  Abolitionists  ran  Mr.  Birney  for  President,  and 
he  received  62,270  votes. 

This  was  the  third  time  Mr.  Clay  had  been  a candi- 
date, and  the  third  time  he  had  been  defeated,  to  the 
great  sorrow  of  a majority  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  for  many  who  voted  against  him  on  purely 
party  grounds,  really  desired  his  election. 

The  most  prominent  question  at  issue  between  the 
contending  parties  at  this  time  was  the  annexation  of 
Texas,  which  the  Democrats  favored,  and  the  Whigs 
opposed. 

Mr.  Polk’s  administration  was  distinguished  by  the 
war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  which 
grew  out  of  the  annexation  of  Texas.  Since  1836, 
there  had  been  no  accessions  of  new  States,  and  hence 
there  were  but  twenty-six  in  the  Union  at  this  election. 

SIXTEENTH  ELECTION,  1848. 

The  political  tide  turned  at  this  election  in  favor  of 
the  Whigs,  or,  in  the  triangular  fight,  Democrat 
slaughtered  Democrat,  and  Gen.  Taylor  won  the  field. 
The  order  of  battle  was  on  this  wise:  the  Whigs 
massed  their  forces  under  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor,  while 
the  Democrats  divided  theirs  into  two  divisions,  with 
as  much  hostility  to  each  other,  as  to  their  old  and 
common  enemy  the  Whigs.  Gen.  Lewis  Cass  was  at 
the  head  of  the  first  and  largest  division,  while  Mr. 


148 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Van  Buren  commanded  the  second  and  smaller  divi- 
sion. 

u When  Greek  meets  Greek,  then  comes  the  tug  of  war.” 
When  Democrat  meets  Democrat,  then  comes  defeat. 

But  to  drop  military  figures,  the  respective  candi- 
dates at  this  election  were : Whig,  Zachary  Taylor  for 
President,  and  Millard  Fillmore  for  Vice  President  ; 
Democrat,  Lewis  Cass  for  President,  and  William  0. 
Butler  of  Kentucky  for  Vice  President.  Free  Soil 
Democrats,  Martin  Van  Buren  for  President,  and 
Charles  F.  Adams  for  Vice  President. 

After  the  election,  the  popular  vote  showed  this 
result  : 


Mr.  Van  Buren  opposed  the  regular  Democratic 
candidate  on  the  ground  that  he  (Van  Buren)  was  op- 
posed to  any  further  extension  of  slavery,  while  Mr. 
Cass  and  his  friends  were  not. 

Gen.  Taylor  died  on  the  9th  of  July,  1850,  after  ad- 
ministering the  government  1 year,  4 months  and  4 
days,  and  for  the  second  time  since  the  government 
was  put  into  operation,  the  Vice  President  became  the 
acting  President. 

Since  the  year  1844,  four  new  States,  viz. : Texas, 
Florida,  Iowa  and  Wisconsin  had  been  admitted; 
which  made  thirty  States  in  the  Union  at  this  election. 


At  this  election  the  Democrats  regained  their  lost 

o 


Taylor  and  Fillmore 
Cass  and  Butler 
Van  Buren  and  Adams 


1,862,024 

1,222,419 

291,678 


SEVENTEENTH  ELECTION,  1852. 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTIONS. 


149 


power,  with  Franklin  Pierce  for  their  Chief  Magis- 
trate, and  William  R.  King*  for  the  second. 

The  Whigs  put  General  Winfield  Scott  in  nomina- 
tion for  President,  and  William  A.  Graham  of  North 
Carolina  for  Vice  President. 

Pierce  and  King  received  1,590,490  popular  votes. 

Scott  and  Graham  “ 1,378,589  “ 

Majority  for  Pierce  and  King  211,901 

Perhaps  no  Presidential  election  ever  occurred  in 
the  United  States,  in  which  there  was  less  interest  than 
in  this;  for  neither  partyappeared  to  be  very  well 
pleased  with  their  candidates. 

This  Whig  defeat  was  so  disastrous  to  that  party 
that  it  disbanded  immediately  afterwards,  and  became 
extinct. 

Since  1848,  California  had  been  admitted,  making 
thirty-one  States  at  the  time  of  this  election. 

EIGHTEENTH  ELECTION,  1856. 

The  Presidential  campaign  of  this  year  was  opened 
with  three  candidates  for  the  Presidency  in  the  field  ; 
as  follows : 

James  Buchanan  and  John  C.  Breckenridge,  for 
President  and  Vice  President,  on  the  Democratic  side. 

As  stated  in  our  notice  of  the  election  of  1852,  the 
Whig  party  had  become  extinct.  But  a new  one  had 
been  organized,  whose  members  called  themselves  Re- 
publicans, for  the  purpose  of  opposing  the  further  ex- 
tension of  slavery. 

*William  E.  King,  of  Alabama,  died  April  18,  1853,  and  never 
took  his  seat. 


150 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


This  party  nominated  John  C.  Fremont  and  William 
L.  Dayton,  for  President  and  Vice  President. 

A fraction  of  the  American  party  yet  remained 
alive,  and  they  put  Millard  Fillmore  and  Andrew  J. 

♦ Donnelson  in  nomination  as  their  candidates.  This 
party  was  organized  in  opposition  to  the  election  of 
foreigners  to  office. 

The  popular  vote  showed  this  result : 

For  Buchanan  and  Breckenridge  1,803,029 

“ Fremont  and  Dayton  . 1,342,164 

“ Fillmore  and  Donnelson  874,625 

Buchanan  was  elected,  hut  by  a plurality  vote.  Fre- 
mont and  Fillmore  together  had  a majority  of  413,760 
votes  ; thirty-one  States,  the  same  as  at  the  last  elec- 
tion, participated  in  this.  Mr.  Buchanan’s  administra- 
tion is  distinguished  as  the  one  under  wThich  the  late 
insurrection  broke  out,  and  which  was  followed  by  our 
civil  war.  He  fell  into  disfavor  by  refusing  to  do  any- 
thing to  suppress  the  insurrection. 

NINETEENTH  ELECTION,  1860. 

The  period  for  another  Presidential  election  return- 
ed in  November  of  this  year,  and  four  candidates 
were  put  into  the  field. 

Abraham  Lincoln,  by  the  Bepublican  party,  for 
President,  and  Hannibal  Hamlin  for  Vice' President. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas,  by  the  Northern  Democrats, 
for  President,  and  Herschel  V.  Johnson  for  Vice  Pre- 
sident. 

John  C.  Breckenridge,  by  the  Southern  Democrats, 
for  President,  and  Joseph  Lane  for  Vice  President. 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTIONS.  151 

John  Bell,  by  the  American  party,  for  President, 
and  Edward  Everett  for  Vice  President. 

Three  candidates  against  one,  so  divided  the  strength 
of  the  opposition  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  that  it  insured  his 
election ; but  by  a plurality  vote. 

The  popular  vote  forLincoln  and  Hamlin  was  1,866,452 
Douglas  and  Johnson  1,375,157 
Breckenridge  and  Lane  847,953 
Bell  and  Everett  590,631 

The  three  latter  together  had  a majority  of  947,289 
votes  over  Lincoln.  The  whole  vote  was  much  larger 
than  any  ever  before  given  at  a Presidential  election, 
and  amounted  to  4,680,193.  By  the  census  taken  this 
year,  the  whole  population  in  the  States,  including 
slaves,  and  excluding  the  Territories  whose  population 
cannot  vote  for  President,  was  31,148,048.  Two  new 
States,  Minnesota  and  Oregon,  had  been  admitted 
since  the  last  election,  making  thirty-three  States 
which  voted  at  this. 

The  ostensible  and  prominent  questions  which  divi- 
ded the  supporters  of  these  candidates  at  this  election, 
were  as  follows : 

Lincoln’s  opposed  the  extension  of  slavery;  Brecken- 
ridge’s  favored  it. 

Douglas’s  favored  the  submission  of  the  question  to 
the  new  States  to  be  admitted;  leaving  them  to  decide 
whether  slavery  should  be  allowed  in  them  or  not. 

Bell’s  ignored  the  whole  question,  and  called  their 
platform  “The  Constitution  and  the  Laws.” 

TWENTIETH  ELECTION,  1864. 

The  twentieth  Presidential  election  took  place  this 
year.  Abraham  Lincoln  was  re-nominated  by  the 


152 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Republicans.  Mr.  Hamlin  was  dropped  for  Vice- 
President,  and  Andrew  Johnson  (a  Democrat,)  was 
nominated  in  his  place,  on  account  of  his  loyalty  dur- 
ing the  rebellion. 

Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  and  George  H.  Pendle- 
ton were  nominated  by  the  Democratic  party  as  their 
candidates  for  President  and  Vice  President. 

The  popular  vote  was  as  follows: 

For  Lincoln  and  Johnson  2,223,035 

“ McClellan  and  Pendleton  1,811,754 

Total  popular  vote  4,034,789 

This  shows  more  than  a half  a million  less  votes 
than  at  the  election  of  1860.  The  cause  of  this  was 
that  eleven  of  the  Southern  States  had  seceded  from 
the  United  States  in  1860  and  1861,  and  still  continued 
in  that  condition ; and  consequently  did  not  vote  at 
this  election.  But  two  new  States  had  been  added 
since  the  last  election,  viz. : Kansas  and  West  Virginia. 
These  made  35  States  in  all,  but  by  deducting  the  11 
seceded  States,  only  24  were  left  to  vote  at  this  election. 

Mr.  Lincoln’s  administration  will  long  continue  to 
be  one  of  the  most  distinguished  on  record,  on  account 
of  the  civil  war  which  raged  during  the  whole  period 
of  it. 

His  assassination,  within  little  more  than  a month 
after  he  had  entered  upon  his  second  term,  filled  the 
nation  with  mourning,  and  shocked  the  moral  sense  of 
the  world  to  an  extent  rarely  felt  at  any  previous  event. 

His  death  elevated  the  Vice  President  to  the  posi- 
tion of  acting  President;  this  being  the  third  instance 
of  the  kind  in  the  history  of  our  government. 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTIONS. 


153 


TWENTY-FIRST  ELECTION — 1868. 

This  was  the  last  Presidential  election,  and  will  be, 
until  November,  1872. 

General  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  of  Illinois,  and  Schuyler 
Colfax,  of  Indiana,  were  the  Republican  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice  President.  They  were  elected  by 
about  309,588  majority  of  the  popular  vote.* 

Horatio  Seymour,  of  New  York,  and  Francis  P. 
Blair,  of  Missouri,  were  the  Democratic  candidates  for 
the  same  office. 

This  was  the  third  successive  election  at  which  the 
Republican  party  succeeded.  The  two  great  issues  in 
this  contest  related  to  questions  affecting  the  public 
debt,  and  the  manner  of  reconstructing  the  States 
lately  seceded. 

The  Republicans  advocated  the  payment  of  the  pub- 
lic debt  in  gold — that  is,  that  portion  of  it  which  the 
government  had  stipulated  thus  to  pay,  and  the  por- 
tion, also,  which  had  been  generally  understood  as 
payable  in  gold.  They  also  advocated  that  mode  of 
reconstruction  known  as  the  Congressional  plan. 

Some  of  the  Democrats  advocated  the  payment  of 
the  debt  in  paper  money  ; and  as  to  reconstructing  the 
seceded  States,  they  advocated  the  plan  of  Mr.  John- 
son, the  acting  President. 

* The  whole  popular  vote  for  President  was  5,716,788 ; although 
Virginia,  Texas  and,  Mississippi  did  not  vote,  and  Florida  voted  by 
her  legislature.  So  that  the  popular  vote  without  these  four  states 
was  5,716,788. 


154 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Electors. 

1.  An  elector,  in  the  broadest  sense  of  the  word, 
means  anybody  who  votes  at  an  election  for  any  per- 
son for  any  office  or  position,  whatever  it  may  be,  and  who 
is  generally  styled  a voter.  But  in  a more  restricted 
sense,  and  that  in  which  it  is  used  here,  elector  means 
a person  chosen  to  elect  the  President  and  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  Two  different  methods 
have  been  used  to  choose  these  electors,  and  both  were 
in  conformity  with  the  Constitution ; for  it  says  that 
each  State  shall  appoint,  in  such  manner  as  the  Legis- 
lature thereof  may  direct,  a number  of  electors  equal 
to  the  whole  number  of  Senators  and  Representatives 
to  which  the  State  may  be  entitled  in  Congress. 
Now  this  left  the  Legislatures  of  the  respective  States 
to  appoint  the  electors  themselves,  or  to  direct  their 
appointment  in  any  other  way.  Hence  in  some  States 
the  Legislatures  chose  them,  and  in  others  they  passed 
acts  directing  their  election  by  the  people;  and  as  far 
down  as  1824  in  six  of  the  States  the  Legislatures  con- 
tinued to  appoint  or  elect  them  themselves:  while  in 
all  the  remaining  States  their  election  was  given 
directly  to  the  people,  and  this  method  has  now  be- 
come universal  in  all  the  States,  and  is  the  one  which 
seems  to  be  most  approved  by  the  people. 

2.  These  electors,  when  chosen,  must  meet  in  their 
respective  States  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  December 
— that  is,  when  a Presidential  election  occurs  (which 


ELECTORS. 


155 


is  every  fourth  year;)  and  when  assembled,  they  are 
denominated  the  electoral  colleges,  and  vote  for  one 
man  for  President,  and  another  for  Vice  President; 
after  which  these  votes  are  sent  to  the  President  of  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States  by  a messenger  selected 
for  that  express  purpose.  When  this  is  done,  the 
duties  of  the  electors  are  completed,  and  they  have 
nothing  more  to  do  in  the  matter.  The  college  is 
dissolved,  never  to  meet  again.  But  in  four  years,  at 
the  next  Presidential  election,  a new  college  will  as- 
semble for  the  same  purpose,  and  to  perform  the 
same  duty. 

3.  When  these  votes  reach  Washington,  the  Senate 
and  the  House  of  Representatives  assemble  together 
on  the  second  Wednesday  in  February,  and  in  their 
presence  the  votes  are  opened  and  counted,  and  it  is 
then  declared  who  has  been  elected  President  and 
Vice  President  of  the  United  States  for  the  next  four 
years.  Until  quite  lately  the  Presidential  elections 
were  held  in  different  States  on  different  days;  but  by 
an  act  of  Congress,  one  day  for  this  election  is  now 
designated  throughout  all  the  States,  and  that  day  is 
the  first  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November. 
This  is  the  method  which  the  Constitution  has  declared 
shall  be  used  in  the  election  of  the  President;  but  it 
is  a clumsy  and  cumbrous  piece  of  machinery — a wheel 
within  a wheel — and  we  hope  it  will  soon  be  worn 
out,  and  the  people  will  be  allowed  to  vote  directly  for 
the  candidates  they  prefer.  This  would  enable  them 
to  vote  for  their  choice  for  Vice  President,  which  they 
cannot  always  now  do,  for  the  electors  are  bound  to 
vote  for  the  Vice  President  who  runs  on  the  ticket 
with  the  President.  Plence  if  a voter  wishes  to  vote 
for  a certain  candidate  for  President,  he  must  vote  for 
the  Vice  President  who  runs  on  the  same  ticket, 
whether  he  prefers  him  or  not. 


156 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXXV TT. 

Ambassadors,  Foreign  Ministers,  Charge 
d’Affaires. 

1.  Foreign  Ministers  are  the  representatives  of  one 
nation  to  another,  and  are  the  agents  used  to  regulate 
their  political  relations  and  commercial  intercourse;  to 
make  treaties,  and  to  settle  disputes  and  misunderstand- 
ings which  may  occur  between  them.  The  office  of  a 
foreign  minister  is  one  of  great  dignity  and  honor.  He 
ought  to  have  extensive  knowlege  of  national  affairs, 
sound  judgment,  prudence  and  wisdom;  for  by  these 
he  may  prevent  contention,  strife  and  war.  This  offi- 
cer is  not  peculiar  to  our  government,  or  to  our  times. 
Hearly  all  civilized  nations  of  any  standing  or  impor- 
tance, both  receive  and  send  them,  and  did  so  in  an- 
cient times. 

2.  By  the  law  of  nations,  ambassadors  are  exempt  from 
arrest,  imprisonment  or  prosecution  ; because  they  are 
the  representatives  of  the  sovereign  or  nation  who  sent 
them.  Even  their  servants  are  secure  from  arrest,  and 
their  propei’ty  exempt  from  seizure  for  debt.  The 
law  of  Congress  protecting  foreign  ministers  to  this 
country,  is  but  an  enactment  of  what  was  before  known 
to  be  the  law  of  nations,  all  over  the  civilized  world  ; 
and  a violation  of  this  well  recognized  law  without 
reparation  and  satisfaction,  would  be  a cause  of  war 
against  the  offending  party. 

3.  Our  own  foreign  ministers  of  all  grades  are  ap- 


FOREIGN  MINISTERS. 


157 


pointed  by  the  President,  by  and  witli  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  Senate.  They  are  not,  however,  the 
representatives  of  the  President,  but  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States.  We  said  of  all  grades, 
for  there  are  grades  of  these  officials,  different  in  dig- 
nity and  power.  They  are  distinguished  also  by  dif- 
ferent names  which  indicate  their  rank,  viz. : Ambas- 
sadors, Envoys  Extraordinary  and  Ministers  Plenipo-. 
tentiary,  Ministers  Resident,  and  Charge  d’ Affaires. 

AMBASSADORS. 

4.  This  title  in  our  country  has  no  very  specific  mean- 
ing. It  designates,  however,  a minister  of  the  highest 
grade;  but  does  not  distinguish  between  one  who  goes 
to  reside  in  the  country  whither  he  is  sent,  and  one 
who  is  sent  for  some  special  purpose  ; such  as  that  of 
negotiating  a treaty  of  peace,  or  some  other  particular 
matter  with  which  he  is  charged,  and  when  that  is  ac- 
complished returns  home.  In  the  latter  case  he  is 
frequently  styled  a commissioner,  because  he  was  duly 
authorized,  and  commissioned  by  his  government  to  act 
for  it ; but  in  both  cases  the  officer  is  an  ambassador, 
for  that  word  means  a person  authorized  and  sent  to 
transact  business  for  his  government. 

ENVOYS  EXTRAORDINARY  AND  MINISTERS  PLENIPOTENTIARY. 

5.  These  titles  designate  ministers  of  the  highest 
class ; but  generally  refer  to  such  as  go  to  reside  in 
the  country  where  sent,  and  with  full  power  to  act  for 
their  government,  in  all  matters  and  things  of  a diplo- 
matic character. 

Where  negotiations  become  necessary  between  the 


158 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


two  nations,  permanent  ministers  of  this  grade  are  only 
sent  to  great  powers — governments  of  the  higher  class. 

At  the  present  time  we  have  twelve  foreign  minis- 
ters of  this  class,  one  in  each  of  the  following  coun- 
tries: Austria,  Brazil,  Chili,  China,  France,  England, 
Italy,  Mexico,  Peru,  Germany,  Russia  and  Spain.  Those 
to  England,  Germany  and  France,  receive  in  gold 
$17,500  per  year  salary,  the  one  to  Peru,  $10,000,  and 
each  of  the  others,  $12,000. 

MINISTERS  RESIDENT. 

S.  These  are  not  considered  so  high  in  rank  as  those 
termed  envoys  extraordinary  and  ministers  plenipoten- 
tiary. Yet  they  are  clothed  with  nearly  the  same 
powers,  hut  are  sent  to  countries  of  less  importance, 
and  receive  less  salaries,  viz. : $7,500. 

At  this  time  we  have  twenty  of  this  grade,  one  in 
each  of  the  following  places : Argentine  Confederation, 
Belgium,  Bolivia,  Costa  Rica,  Denmark,  Ecuador, 
Guatemala,  Hawaiian  Islands,  Honduras,  Japan,  Neth- 
erlands, United  States  of  Columbia,  Nicaragua,  Para- 
guay, Portugal,  Sweden,  Norway,  Switzerland,  Turkey, 
and  Venezuela. 

COMMISSIONERS. 

7.  There  are  a still  lower  grade  of  ministers  (if  we 
may  call  them  so),  or  government  agents,  who  reside 
abroad.  They  are  sent  to  look  after  the  interests  of 
our  government  and  its  citizens  in  places  of  not  much 
importance,  and  where  there  is  but  little  to  do.  They 
also  receive  but  small  pay.  We  have  now  but  two  of 
them,  one  in  Ilayti,  and  one  at  Liberia,  in  Africa. 


JOHN  TYLER. 

TENTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


library 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


FOREIGN  MINISTERS. 


159 


CHARGE  D’AFFAIRES. 

8.  These  officials  rank  as  the  lowest  grade  of  min- 
isters or  diplomatic  officers,  and  are  not  clothed  with 
much  authority  or  power,  excepting  when  authorized 
to  act  in  the  room  of  a minister  of  higher  rank,  whose 
place  is  for  the  time  being  vacant.  In  this  case  con- 
suls have  been  authorized  to  act  in  place  of  ministers ; 
but  not  unless  authorized  to  do  so  by  the  President  of 
the  United  States. 

SECRETARIES  OF  LEGATION. 

9.  Secretaries  of  Legation  may  with  propriety  be 
noticed  under  the  general  head  of  ministers,  although 
they  are  not  ministers  of  any  grade,  but  are  appointed 
by  the  same  powers  that  appoint  ministers,  and  accom- 
pany them  merely  as  their  secretaries.  In  the  absence 
of  a charge  d’affaires,  they  are  sometimes  authorized 
to  act  in  his  place.  The  position  is  not  one  of  great 
dignity,  nor  is  the  compensation  large. 


li 


160  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIH. 

Consuls. 

1.  Consuls  are  officers  not  peculiar  to  our  govern- 
ment. They  are  known  and  employed  by  many,  if 
not  all  of  the  civilized  nations  of  the  wmrld,  and  are 
recognized  by  the  law  of  nations.  Their  duties  and 
fields  of  action  are  always  in  foreign  countries — never 
at  home.  Although  they  are  the  agents  of  the  gov- 
ernment that  employs  them,  yet  many  of  their  duties 
require  them  to  act  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  private 
citizens  of  their  country  who  may  happen  to  be  within 
their  consulate. 

2.  The  Constitution  provides  that  the  President  and 
Senate  shall  appoint  all  our  consuls.  The  President 
signs  their  commissions,  which  bear  the  great  seal  of 
the  United  States,  and  which  prove  to  the  government 
where  they  are  sent  that  they  are  duly  appointed  and 
authorized  to  discharge  the  duties  of  consuls  at  the 
ports  or  places  to  which  they  have  been  appointed. 

3.  In  order  to  show  the  nature  of  a consul’s  duties, 
such  as  the  laws  impose  upon  him,  we  will  state  the 
substance  of  several  acts  relating  to  this  subject. 

1.  Whenever  a vessel  belonging  to  a citizen  of  the 
United  States  arrives  at  the  port  where  he  is  stationed, 
it  is  his  duty  to  receive  the  ship’s  papers,  and  to  see 
if  they  are  all  correct. 

2.  It  is  his  duty  to  provide  for  sick,  disabled,  and 
destitute  American  seamen,  and  to  send  them  home 
by  some  vessel  going  to  the  United  States. 


CONSULS. 


161 


3.  He  must  hear  the  complaints  of  seamen,  and  set- 
tle disputes  between  the  captain  and  men  ; and  for 
good  cause  he  may  discharge  the  whole  ship's  crew. 

4.  It  is  made  his  duty  to  receive  and  take  care  of 
the  personal  property  of  any  citizen  of  the  United 
States  who  has  died  within  his  consulate,  and  to  send 
any  balance  which  may  be  left  after  paying  his  debts 
and  necessary  expenses,  to  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
States,  to  be  held  in  trust  for  the  legal  claimants.  He 
must  also  give  notice  to  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the 
death  of  such  person. 

4.  For  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  and  executing 
certain  treaties  made  between  the  United  States  and 
China,  Japan,  Siam  and  Turkey,  consuls  to  those 
countries  have  been  empowered  with  judicial  func- 
tions. They  were  allowed  to  act  as  judges,  and  to  try 
and  punish  citizens  of  the  United  States  wrho  had  com- 
mitted crimes  there.  These,  however,  were  extraor- 
dinary powers  in  special  cases,  and  by  no  means  com- 
mon to  the  consular  office. 

5.  In  the  absence  of  a minister  or  diplomatic  agent 
of  the  United  States,  the  President  may  authorize  a 
consul  to  perform  the  duties  of  such  foreign  minister; 
but  these  powers  are  rarely  conferred  on  them.  Their 
ordinary  duties  relate  to  commercial  affairs,  and  to 
such  as  are  before  stated. 

6.  A vice  consul,  or  deputy  consul,  is  one  appointed 
to  act  temporarily  in  case  of  sickness  or  absence  of 
the  consul.  His  powers,  while  acting,  are  the  same  as 
those  of  the  consul  in  whose  place  he  acts.  Every 
consul  is  required  to  give  bonds  for  the  faithful  per- 
formance of  his  duties. 


162  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

7.  Our  commerce  has  been  extended  to  almost  every 
part  of  the  globe,  and  for  this  reason  we  need  a great 
number  of  these  officials.  Their  services  are  required 
at  all  great  seaports,  and  at  many  smaller  ones.  Their 
compensation  varies  according  to  the  amount  of  busi- 
ness to  be  transacted  by  them,  from  $7,500  down  to 
$500.  Some  do  not  receive  any  salary,  but  are  al- 
lowed the  fees  they  are  authorized  to  charge  for  their 
services. 

8.  A consul  is  to  some  extent  a representative  of  his 
government,  and  is  therefore  treated  with  considera- 
tion and  respect.  An  insult  to  him  is  looked  upon  as 
an  insult  to  his  country,  for  he  is  a kind  of  general 
agent  for  his  government  and  people.  It  is  his  duty 
to  give  them  all  such  information  as  he  possesses  in 
relation  to  the  laws  and  practices  of  the  country  to 
which  he  is  sent,  which  it  would  be  important  for  them 
to  know  whether  at  home  or  abroad;  and  especially  is 
it  his  duty  to  look  after  the  interests  and  welfare  of 
his  countrymen  when  they  are  within  his  consulate, 
and  to  see  that  no  wrong  or  injustice  is  done  to  them 
by  the  people  or  government  where  he  resides. 


treaties. 


163 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

Treaties. 

1.  Ip  two  individuals  enter  into  a written  contract 
or  agreement,  in  which  each  agrees  with  the  other 
o do,  or  not  to  do,  certain  things  therein  stated  and 
specified;  these  individuals  or  parties  to  the  contract 
as  they  are  called,  perform  an  act  which  is  most  like  ’ 
tieaty  between  two  nations,  States  or  powers,  ofany- 

if  caheTtCan  t lmk  a comParison  or  illustration, 
t called  to  answer  the  question  “what  is  a treaty.” 

n one  case  two  individuals  make  the  contract;  in 
. 6 °tber  two  natlons  or  governments  make  it,  and  it 
parties1  & g°vernmenta  are  the  contracting 

woridT  wl6S  haVe.°ften  been  of  g«at  service  to  the 
.’  botb  m ancient  and  modern  times.  By  these 
negotiations,  wars  have  been  prevented,  friendly  rela- 
ions  maintained,  and  commercial  intercourse  kept  up 
advantageously  to  both  parties.  Treaties  may  be  ne- 
gotiated by  any  persons  properly  authorized  by  their 
government  to  do  so;  and  any  government  may  a^thor- 
e such  persons  as  they  see  fit,  to  perform  these 
mportant  acts  In  many  cases  the  ordinary  ministers 
h°  iePreseat  ^eir  governments  to  other  governments 
negotiate  ordinary  treaties.  But  in  cases^hereX: 
thing  of  an  extraordinary  character  is  to  be  arranged 
special  ministers  or  commissioners  are  sent  forfhis 
express  purpose  This  was  the  case  at  the  treaty  of 
Ghent,  (so  called  from  the  name  of  the  place  where 


164  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT* 

the  commissioners  met  to  arrange  it,)  in  1814;  by 
which  a peace  was  brought  about  between  England 
and  the  United  States,  after  the  last  war  between  those 
powers.  Special  ministers,  or  commissioners,  as  they 
were  denominated,  were  appointed  and  sent  for  this 
very  purpose.  A treaty  of  peace  was  agreed  upon  by 
the  commissioners  of  the  respective  countries,  and 
hostilities  ceased  as  soon  as  the  news  reached  the  Uni- 
ted States. 

3.  In  some  cases  our  government  has  authorized  its 
commanding  generals  to  make  a treaty  with  the  hos- 
tile nation.  It  has  also  given  the  same  power  to  the 
commanders  of  our  national  vessels;  and  also,  in  a 
few  cases,  to  our  consuls,  in  countries  at  a great  dis- 
tance from  home,  such  as  China,  Japan,  Siam  and 
Turkey. 

The  persons  authorized  to  negotiate  a treaty,  rarely 
act  without  instructions  from  their  government,  as  to 
the  times  and  conditions  of  the  proposed  treaty. 
Much,  however,  must  be  left  to  the  sound  judgment 
and  discretion  of  the  negotiators  as  to  the  details. 

4.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  a treaty,  although 
mutually  agreed  upon  by  the  agents  of  the  nations  con- 
cerned, is  not  binding  - upon  either  party  until  pro- 
perly ratified  according  to  the  forms  of  the  respective 
governments  interested.  The  modes  of  ratification 
differ  in  different  governments.  In  ours  the  Consti- 
tution confers  this  power  upon  the  President,  by  and 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  two-thirds  of  the  Senate. 

In  absolute  monarchies  this  power  rests  in  the  hands 
of  the  King  or  Emperor  alone.  As  before  stated,  every 


TREATIES. 


165 


government  may  confer  the  power  to  negotiate  a treaty 
upon  such  agents  as  it  pleases.  It  also  has  the  power 
to  prescribe  such  modes  of  ratifying  or  confirming  it, 
as  it  pleases. 

5.  But  when  once  made  and  approved,  it  becomes 
binding  not  only  upon  the  respective  governments 
that  made  it,  but  upon  all  the  citizens  and  subjects  of 
that  government.  It  has  been  held  in  this  country  by 
our  greatest  lawyers  and  statesmen,  that  the  provisions 
of  a treaty  bind  Congress,  the  President  and  every  citi- 
zen as  much  as  any  Constitutional  provision  or  act  of 
Congress.  And  for  this  reason  our  treaties  are  pub- 
lished in  the  papers  in  every  State  and  Territory  in  the 
Union,  in  the  same  manner,  and  to  the  same  extent, 
as  the  laws  of  Congress. 

6.  The  violation  of  a treaty  by  either  of  the  parties 
thereto,  is  reprehensible  and  criminal.  It  is  deroga- 
tory to  the  character  of  any  nation  or  individual  that 
does  it.  It  destroys  the  confidence  of  one  nation  in 
the  other,  leads  to  unfriendly  feelings  and  acts  between 
the  parties,  and  may  bring  on  a war,  if  satisfaction  is 
not  given.  Yet  such  things  have  been  done,  and  evil 
consequences  have  always  followed.  46  If  you  make  a 
bargain,  stick  to  it,”  is  a common,  trite,  and  wise 
saying. 

Just  here  it  seems  proper  to  call  attention  to  the 
fact  that  the  Constitution  prohibits  any  State  from 
making  any  treaty  with  any  foreign  government.  The 
reason  for  this  provision  is  very  obvious,  for,  if  allowed, 
a State  might  confer  privileges  upon  foreign  powers 
which  would  be  incompatible  with  the  interests  of  other 


1 QQ  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

States.  Therefore  the  treaty-making  power  is  kept 
wholly  in  the  hands  of  the  general  government,  for  in 
it  every  State  has  its  representatives,  and  a voice  in 
every  treaty  which  it  makes. 

7.  So  numerous  are  the  treaties  which  the  United 
States  have  made  with  nearly  every  civilized  nation 
upon  earth,  that  it  would  require  a very  large  volume 
to  contain  them.  They  are  published  with  the  laws, 
and  generally  in  English  and  in  the  language  of  the 
nation  with  whom  the  treaty  is  made.  They  may  be 
found  in  the  United  States  Statutes  at  Large.  It 
would  require  too  much  space  in  a work  of  this  kind, 
to  give  even  their  titles. 

8.  Wars  have  been  stopped;  boundary  lines  between 
nations  have  been  established;  commercial  intercourse 
arranged;  the  purchase  and  sale  of  lands,  and  a variety 
of  other  things  have  been  the  subjects  of,  and  formed 
the  matter  of  treaties.  Several  of  our  most  important 
ones  relate  to  the  purchase  of  territory.  We  accquired 
the  States  of  Louisiana,  Arkansas  and  Missouri,  by  a 
treaty  with  France  in  1803.  It  was  called  the  Louisi- 
ana purchase;  for  it  was  nothing  more  than  a purchase 
and  sale  of  lands.  We  also  acquired  Florida  of  Spain, 
in  1819,  in  the  same  way,  and  California  and  New 
Mexico  of  Mexico,  in  1847. 

9.  The  immense  quantities  of  land  purchased  of  the 
Indians,  were  obtained  by  treaties  with  them.  W e 
are  sorry  to  say  that  in  some  cases  they  have  treach- 
erously violated  their  treaty  obligations;  but  at  the 
same  time  it  should  be  said  by  way  of  extenuating 
their  offence,  that  our  own  government  agents  appoin- 


TREATIES. 


167 


ted  for  tlie  purpose  of  taking  care  of  the  interests  of 
the  poor  Indians,  have,  in  connection  with  the  white 
traders  among  them,  shamefully  cheated  and  wronged 
them,  and  provoked  them  not  only  to  disregard  their 
obligations,  but  to  perpetrate  murders,  robberies,  and 
thefts  upon  the  whites  who  live  near  them.  At  differ- 
ent times  during  the  years  past,  the  Indians  have  been 
very  hostile  to  us,  and  have  waged  war  against  the 
whites  in  their  vicinity  for  the  reasons  above  stated. 
“ Honesty  is  the  best  policy.” 

10.  In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1867,  a treaty  was 
negotiated  by  William  H.  Seward,  our  Secretary  of 
State,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  and  Edward  de 
Stoekl,  the  Russian  Minister  to  the  United  States,  on 
the  part  of  Russia,  for  the  cession  of  the  Russian  pos- 
sessions in  North  America  to  the  United  States. 

This  treaty  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant of  all  our  treaties  with  foreign  powers  ; for  by 
it  the  United  States  acquire  between  350,000  and  400,- 
000  square  miles  of  territory,  in  addition  to  our  already 
immense  possessions ; and  places  by  far  the  greater 
part  of  the  northwestern  coast  of  North  America  un- 
der the  control  of  the  United  States  government. 

For  the  purpose  of  giving  a specimen  of  a treaty, 
and  showing  some  of  the  details  of  this  negotiation, 
we  here  insert  it  in  full,  as  agreed  upon  by  the  con- 
tracting parties.  $7,000,000  .in  gold  is  the  considera- 
tion which  the  United  States  paid  Russia  for  this  ter- 
ritory. This  treaty  has  been  ratified  by  both  the 
United  States  and  the  Russian  governments  and  the 
money  ($7,000,000  in  gold)  has  been  appropriated  for 
the  purpose  and  paid  to  the  Russian  Minister. 


168 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


THE  RUSSIAN  TREATY. 

The  following  is  the  text  of  the  Russian-American 
treaty  : — 

The  United  States  of  America,  and  his  Majesty, 
the  Emperor  of  all  the  Russias,  being  desirous  of 
strengthening,  if  possible,  the  good  understanding 
which  exists  between  them,  have  for  that  purpose  ap- 
pointed as  their  plenipotentiaries,  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  William  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of  State, 
and  his  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  all  the  Russias,  Mr. 
Edward  de  Stoeckl,  his  Envoy  Extraordinary  and 
Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  the  United  States,  and  the 
said  plenipotentiaries,  having  exchanged  their  full 
powers,  which  wrere  found  to  be  in  due  form,  have 
agreed  upon  and  signed  the  following  articles  : 

Article  I.  His  Majesty,  the  Emperor  of  all  the  Rus- 
sias, agrees  to  cede  to  the  United  States,  by  this  con- 
vention, immediately  upon  the  exchange  of  the  ratifi- 
cations thereof,  all  the  territory  and  dominion  now 
possessed  by  his  said  Majesty  on  the  continent  of 
America  and  in  the  adjacent  islands,  the  same  being 
contained  within  the  geographical  limits  herein  set 
forth,  to  wit:  The  eastern  limit  is  the  line  of  demar- 
cation between  the  Russian  and  British  possessions  in 
North  America,  as  established  by  the  convention  be- 
tween Russia  and  Great  Britain,  of  February  28  (16), 
1825,  and  described  in  articles  third  and  fourth  of  said 
convention  in  the  following  terms:  Commencing  from 
the  southernmost  point  of  the  island  called  Prince  of 
Wales’  Island,  which  point  lies  in  the  parallel  of  50 
deg.  40  min.  north  latitude,  and  between  the  181st  and 
138d  deg.  of  west  longitude,  meridian  of  Greenwich. 
The  said  line  shall  ascend  to  the  north  along  the  chan- 
nel called  Portland  Channel,  as  far  as  the  point  of  the 
continent  where  it  strikes  the  56th  degree  of  north 
longitude.  From  this  last  mentioned  point  the  line  of 
demarcation  shall  follow  the  summit  of  the  mountains 


TREATIES. 


169 


situated  parallel  to  the  coast  as  far  as  the  point  of  in- 
tersection of  the  141st  degree  of  west  longitude  of  the 
same  meridian,  and  filially  from  the  said  point  of  inter- 
section the  said  meridian  line  of  the  141st  degree  in  its 
prolongation  as  far  as  the  Frozen  Ocean.  With  refer- 
ence to  the  line  of  demarcation  laid  down  in  the  pre- 
ceding article,  it  is  understood — first,  that  the  island 
called  Prince  of  Wales’  Island  shall  belong  wholly  to 
Russia,  and  now,  by  this  cession,  wholly  to  the  United 
States ; second,  that  whenever  the  summit  of  the  moun- 
tains which  extend  in  a direction  parallel  to  the  coast 
from  the  56th  degree  of  north  latitude  to  the  point  of 
intersection  of  the  141st  degree  west  longitude  shall 
prove  to  be  at  the  distance  of  more  than  ten  marine 
leagues  from  the  ocean,  the  limit  between  the  British 
possessions  and  the  line  of  coast  which  is  to  belong  to 
Russia  as  above  mentioned — that  is  to  say,  the  limit  of 
the  possessions  ceded  by  this  convention — shall  be 
formed  by  a line  parallel  to  the  winding  of  the  coast, 
and  which  shall  never  exceed  the  distance  of  ten  ma- 
rine leagues  therefrom.  The  western  limit,  within 
which  the  territories  and  dominion  conveyed  are  con- 
tained, passes  through  apoint  in  Behring’s  Strait  on  the 
parallel  of  65  deg.  30  min.  north  latitude,  at  its  inter- 
section by  the  meridian,  which  passes  midway  between 
the  island  of  Krusenstern,  orlgnaalook,  and  the  island 
of  Ratmanog,  or  Noonerbook,  and  proceeds  due  north 
without  limitation  into  the  same  Frozen  Ocean.  The 
same  western  limit  beginning  at  the  same  initial  point, 
proceeds  thence  in  a course  nearly  north-west  through 
Behring’s  Strait  and  Behring’s  Sea,  so  as  to  pass  mid- 
way between  the  north-west  part  of  the  island  of  St. 
Lawrence  and  the  south-east  point  of  Cape  Choukottki 
to  the  meridian  of  172  deg.  west  longitude.  Thence, 
from  the  intersection  of  that  meridian,  in  a south-west- 
erly direction,  so  as  to  pass  midway  between  the  island 
of  Attou  and  the  copper  island  of  the  Koranddorski 
couplet  or  group  in  the  North  Pacific  Ocean,  to  the 


170  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

meridian  of  193  deg.  west  longitude,  so  as  to  include 
in  the  territory  conveyed  the  whole  of  the  Aleutian 
Islands  east  of  that  meridian. 

Art. II.  In  the  cession  of  territory  and  dominion  made 
by  the  preceding  article,  are  included  the  right  of  prop- 
erty in  all  public  lots  and  squares,  vacant  lands,  and  all 
public  buildings,  barracks,  and  other  edifices  which  are 
not  private,  individual  property.  It  is,  however,  un- 
derstood and  agreed  that  the  churches  which  have  been 
built  in  the  ceded  territory  by  the  Russian  government 
shall  remain  the  property  of  suchmembers  ofthe  Greek 
Oriental  Church  resident  in  the  territory  as  may  choose 
to  worship  therein.  Any  government  archives,  papers, 
and  documents  relative  to  the  territory  and  dominion 
aforesaid,  which  may  be  now  existing  there,  will  be 
left  in  possession  of  the  agent  of  the  United  States  ; but 
an  authenticated  copy  of  such  of  them  as  may  be  re- 
quired will  be  at  all  times  given  by  the  United  States 
to  the  Russian  government,  or  to  such  Russian  officers 
or  subjects  as  may  apply  for  them. 

Art.  III.  The  inhabitants  of  the  ceded  territory,  ac- 
cording to  their  choice,  reserving  their  natural  alle- 
giance, may  return  to  Russia  within  three  years  ; but 
if  they  should  prefer  to  remain  in  the  ceded  territory, 
they,  with  the  exception  of  uncivilized  tribes,  shall  be 
admitted  to  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  rights,  advan- 
tages and  immunities  of  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
and  shall  be  maintained  and  protected  in  the  free  en- 
joyment of  their  liberty,  property  and  religion.  The 
uncivilized  tribes  will  be  subject  to  such  laws  and 
regulations  as  the  United  States  may  from  time'to  time 
adopt  in  regard  to  aboriginal  tribes  of  that  country. 

Art.  IV.  His  Majesty,  the  Emperor  of  all  the  Rus- 
sias,  shall  appoint,  with  convenient  dispatch,  an  agent 
or  agents  for  the  purpose  of  formally  delivering  to  a 
similar  agent  or  agents,  appointed  on  behalf  of  the 
United  States,  the  territory,  dominion,  property,  de- 


TREATIES. 


171 


pendencies,  and  appurtenances  which  are  ceded  as 
above,  and  for  doing  any  other  act  which  may  be  ne- 
cessary in  regard  thereto ; but  the  cession,  with  the 
right  of  immediate  possession,  is  nevertheless  to  be 
deemed  complete  and  absolute  on  the  exchange  of  rati- 
fications, without  waiting  for  such  formal  delivery. 

Art.  V.  Immediately  after  the  exchange  of  the  rati- 
fications of  this  convention,  any  fortifications  or  mili- 
tary posts  which  may  be  in  the  ceded  territory  shall  be 
delivered  to  the  agent  of  the  United  States,  and  any 
Russian  troops  which  may  be  in  the  territory  shall  be 
withdrawn  as  soon  as  may  be  reasonably  and  conve- 
niently practicable. 

Art.  YI.  In  consideration  of  the  cession  aforesaid, 
the  United  States  agree  to  pay,  at  the  Treasury  in 
Washington,  within  months  after  the  exchange  of 
the  ratifications  of  this  convention,  to  the  diplomatic 
representative,  or  other  agent  of  His  Majesty,  the  Em- 
peror of  all  Russias,  duly  authorized  to  receive  the 
same,  million  dollars  in  gold.  The  cession  of 

territory  and  dominion  herein  made  is  hereby  demand- 
ed to  be  free  and  unincumbered  by  any  reservations, 
privileges,  franchises,  grants,  or  possessions,  by  any  as- 
sociated companies,  whether  corporate  or  incorporate, 
Russian  or  any  other,  or*  by  any  parties  except  merely 
private  individual  property  holders ; and  the  cession 
hereby  made  conveys  all  the  rights,  franchises  and 
priviliges  now  belonging  to  Russia  in  the  said  territory 
or  dominion  and  appurtenances  thereto. 

Art.  YII.  When  this  convention  shall  have  been 
duly  ratified  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  by 
and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  on  the 
one  part,  and  on  the  other  by  His  Majesty,  the  Empe- 
ror of  all  the  Russias,  the  ratifications  shall  be  ex- 
changed at  Washington  within from  the  date  hereof, 

or  sooner,  if  possible.  In  faith  whereof  the  respective 
plenipotentiaries  have  signed  this  convention,  and 
thereto  affixed  the  seals  of  their  arms. 


172 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

Extradition  Treaties. 

1.  In  the  preceding  chapter  we  spoke  of  treaties 
generally.  We  now  come  to  a particular  kind  of  them 
called  extradition  treaties,  which  are  of  so  recent  date, 
that  they  form  a new  feature  in  our  diplomacy.* 
Among  our  treaties  with  foreign  nations,  we  find 
nothing  upon  this  subject  further  back  than  the  year 
1842,  when  a treaty  of  this  kind  was  made  between 
the  United  States  and  England,  the  necessity  for 
which  arose  out  of  the  fact  that  persons  frequently 
committed  crimes  in  England,  and  then  fled  to  the 
United  States  (and  vice  versa),  to  escape  detection  and 
punishment;  for  they  could  not  be  punished  in ’the 
country  to  which  they  fled,  inasmuch  as  it  had  no  ju- 
risdiction of  a crime  committed  in  a foreign  country. 
To  check  this  evil,  a treaty  was  made  between  the  two 
powers,  in  which  they  mutually  agreed  to  deliver  up, 
each  to  the  other,  any  criminal  who  had  perpetrated 
crimes  of  a certain  kind  (which  were  named  in  the 
treaty),  in  his  own  country,  and  afterwards  fled  to 
the  other.  This  worked  well.  Its  tendency  was  to 
check  crime,  and  at  the  same  time  to  multiply  the 
chances  of  detection  and  punishment. 

2.  Subsequently,  treaties  of  the  same  kind  were 

^Diplomacy,  the  art,  science  and  skill  of  conducting  and  manag- 
ing negotiations,  treaties  and  international  aifairs.  It  also  relates  to 
the  customs,  usages  and  privileges  of  foreign  ministers.  All  the  for- 
eign ministers  to  any  government,  are  called  the  diplomatic  body. 


JAMES  KNOX  POLK, 

ELEVENTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


LIBRUlY 


EXTRADITION  TREATIES.  173 

made  between  the  United  States  and  the  following 
countries : 

France,  in  1843 

Prussia,  and  17  other  German  States  44  1852 

Switzerland,  44  1 85  5 

Baden  44  1857 

Sweden,  44  1860 

Venezuela,  South  America,  44  1861 


The  time  is  probably  not  distant,  when  treaties  of 
this  sort  will  be  made  between  us‘  and  all  the  civilized 
nations  of  the  world ; for  the  intercourse  between  us 
and  foreign  nations  is  greater  than  ever  before. 

The  effect  of  these  international  arrangements  is  to 
render  the  perpetration  of  crime  more  dangerous  than 
it  would  be  if  they  did  not  exist.  Flight  ‘from  the 
country  where  the  crime  was  committed,  was  formerly 
one  of  the  most  effectual  methods  of  escaping  the 
penalty.  But  extradition  treaties,  Atlantic  cables,  and 
land  telegraphs,  have  nearly  spoiled  this  game. 

3.  An  extradition  treaty,  then,  is  a mutual  agree- 
ment between  two  nations  to  deliver  up,  each  to  the 
other,  upon  demand  and  proper  proof  of  criminality, 
such  persons  as  have  committed  crimes  in  one  country 
and  then  fled  to  the  other,  that  they  may  be  taken 
back,  tried  and  punished  where  the  offence  was  com- 
mitted. But  these  demands  for  escaped  criminals 
cannot  be  sustained  if  made  for  any  crime  whatever. 
They  will  only  be  complied  with  when  the  crime  is 
one  which  is  named  in  the  treaty  itself.  These  crimes, 
upon  examination  of  a number  of  such  treaties,  we 
find  to  be:  1.  Murder,  or  an  assault  with  an  intent  to 


174  OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

commit  murder.  2.  Piracy.  3.  Arson.  4.  Robbery. 
5.  Forgery,  or  the  uttering  of  forged  papers,  or  the 
making  or  circulating  counterfeit  money,  either  paper 
or  coin.  6.  Rape.  7.  Embezzlement,  and  8.  Burglary. 

4.  It  should  be  observed  that  a mere  demand  for  an 
alleged  offender  is  not  sufficient.  Proof  enough  to  con- 
vince the  judge  before  whom  the  case  is  brought,  must 
accompany  the  demand.  He  must  be  satisfied  that  the 
party  demanded  has  committed  the  alleged  offence ; 
when  this  is  done,  the  judge  reports  his  finding  to  the 
Secretary  of  State,  whose  duty  then  is,  under  his  hand 
and  seal  of  office,  to  issue  the  final  writ  of  extradition  ; 
after  which  the  criminal  may  be  taken  out  of  the 
United  States  (by  force  if  necessary),  and  back  to  the 
country  where  he  committed  the  crime,  there  to  be 
dealt  with  according  to  the  laws  which  he  violated. 

5.  In  some  of  our  extradition  treaties  it  is  expressly 
stipulated,  that  neither  party  (government)  shall  be 
bound  to  surrender  its  own  citizens,  or  any  person  for 
merely  a political  offence.  In  others  it  is  agreed  that  the 
provisions  in  the  treaty  shall  not  apply  to  cases  where 
the  crime  was  perpetrated  before  the  treaty  was  made. 
This  plea,  we  think,  would  be  held  to  be  a good 
defence  in  all  cases,  whether  so  stipulated  in  the  treaty 
or  not. 

6.  The  treaties  between  different  nations  for  the  surren- 
derof  criminals,  are  so  analagous  to  one  of  the  provis- 
ions contained  in  our  Constitution,  that  to  insert  it  here 
will  give  the  reader  a clear  comprehension  of  its  mean- 


EXTRADITION  TREATIES.  175 

mg.  If  is  found  in  the  second  section  of  article  4,  and 
reads  thus ; — 

“A  person  charged  in  any  State,  with  treason,  felony, 
or  other  crime,  who  shall  flee  from  justice,  and  be 
found  in  another  State,  shall  on  demand  of  the  execu- 
tive authority  of  the  State  from  which  he  fled,  be  de- 
livered up,  to  be  removed  to  the  State  haring  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  crime. 


12 


176 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVEKNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

Letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisal. 

1.  The  Constitution  (Art.  1,  Sec.  8),  gives  Congress 
power  to  declare  war,  and  to  grant  letters  of  marque 
and  reprisal.  This  is  an  act  never  to  be  done,  but  in 
time  of  war.  Congress  itself  does  not  issue  the  letters, 
but  authorizes  the  President  to  do  so.  An  act  was 
passed  in  1863,  expressly  giving  him  this  authority.  A 
letter  of  marque  and  reprisal  may  be  thus  defined : 

2.  It  is  a written  commission  signed  and  sealed  by  a 
competent  authority  of  our  nation,  giving  to  the  com- 
mander of  a private  armed  vessel,  called  a privateer, 
authority  to  capture  the  ships  and  goods  belonging  to 
the  subjects  of  another  nation,  between  which  nations 
there  is  an  existing  war.  This  is  a general  definition. 
But  when  such  letters  are  issued  by  the  United  States, 
they  are  signed  by  the  President,  and  sealed  with  the 
seal  of  the  United  States.  Without  such  commission, 
thus  signed  and  sealed,  any  capture  made  by  the  com- 
mander of  a private  vessel,  would  be  piracy.  If  a cap- 
ture is  made,  it  must  be  made  according  to  the  laws  of 
war,  as  recognized  by  civilized  nations,  and  according 
to  the  instructions  given  by  the  President.  Any  con- 
duct on  the  part  of  a privateer,  contrary  to  these  rules, 
would  vitiate  his  proceedings,  and  he  would  not  be  en- 
titled to  the  property  he  had  captured. 

8.  The  captured  vessel  is  called  a prize,  and  must  be 
taken  into  some  port  of  the  United  States,  or  into  some 
port  of  a country  in  amity  with  the  United  States, 


LETTERS  OF  MARQUE  AND  REPRISAL.  177 

where  legal  proceedings  are  taken  before  some  court 
of  competent  jurisdiction  ; and  the  capture  and  all  the 
the  circumstances  of  it  enquired  into  ; and  if  all  is 
found  to  have  been  done  according  to  the  laws  of  civi- 
lized  nations,  the  captured  vessel  and  cargo  is  con- 
demned as  a prize.  But  if  not  condemned,  the  captors 
lose  her.  "When  adjudged  to  be  a lawful  prize,  the 
ship  and  cargo  are  sold  and  the  money  divided  be- 
tween the  officers  and  men,  according  to  rank,  and  ac- 
cordingto  the  laws  of  Congress  on  this  subject.  These 
laws  give  the  whole  to  the  captors,  when  the  ship  ta- 
ken is  of  equal  or  superior  force  to  the  ship  making 
the  capture ; but  if  of  inferior  force,  then  the  United 
States  takes  one  half. 

4.  Privateering,  as  this  business  is  called,  was  once 
considered  a lawful  and  honorable  mode  of  warfare.  It 
was  generally  practiced  between  belligerent  nations; 
but  in  later  days  its  propriety  and  morality  have  been 
questioned.  It  is  beginning  to  be  looked  upon  as  a 
kind  of  robbery  not  very  distantly  related  to  piracy. 
That  it  is  robbery  no  one  can  deny,  and,  query,  “ Can 
it  be  justified,  on  the  ground  that  the  robber  and  the 
robbed  are  the  subjects  of  nations  at  war  with  each 
other ?” 

5.  In  Europe  an  effort  has  been  made  to  do  away 
with  this  species  of  warfare.  We  hope  it  will  yet  suc- 
ceed, and  that  all  nations  will  agree  to  abolish  this  sys- 
tem of  plunder.  Innocent  parties  are  generally  the 
sufferers,  while  but  small  injury  is  done  to  the  power  of 
the  hostile  nation. 


178 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XLIL 

Suffrage. 

1.  The  right  of  suffrage,  in  its  political  sense  means 
the  right  to  vote  for  such  officers  as  are  elected  by  the 
people;  including  officers  of  the  general  government, 
as  well  as  those  of  the  State  government,  for  when  the 
right  of  suffrage  is  conferred  upon  a man,  it  gives  him 
the  right  of  voting  for  every  elective  officer,  from  the 
President  of  the  United  States  down  to  the  lowest 
State  or  municipal  officer. 

In  the  Constitution,  or  laws  of  Congress,  we  find 
but  little  said  on  the  suffrage  question ; because  Con- 
gress has  never  claimed  the  right  or  power  to  legislate 
on  this  subject.  It  has  been  conceded  that  this  mat- 
ter is  one  which  belongs  to  the  States;  whatever 
qualifications  the  respective  States  required  of  their 
citizens  to  vote  for  their  own  State  officers,  have  been 
accepted  by  the  general  government  as  the  qualifica- 
tions necessary  to  authorize  them  to  vote  for  President, 
Vice  President  and  Congressmen,  the  only  officers  of 
the  United  States  government  for  which  the  people, 
under  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  as  it  now 
stands,  can  vote. 

2.  From  this  statement  wTe  see  that  persons  who,  in 
one  State  may  vote  for  President,  Vice-President  and 
Congressmen,  cannot  do  so  in  another  State;  because 
the  qualifications  of  voters  in  some  States  differ  from 
those  of  voters  in  others.  For  example,  some  States 
require  a residence  in  the  State  of  one  year,  before  a 
man  can  enjoy  this  franchise,  other  States  but  six 
months.  In  most  of  the  States,  it  is  required  of  for- 


SUFFRAGE. 


179 


eigners  to  become  citizens  by  naturalization  before 
they  are  allowed  to  vote.  But  in  some  this  is  not  re- 
quired. In  some  of  the  States  colored  persons  can 
vote.  In  others  this  right  is  not  given  to  them  under 
any  circumstances.*  Although  it  has  long  been  con- 
ceded that  the  power  of  conferring  the  right  of  suffrage 
was  one  which  belonged  exclusively  to  the  States,  and 
although  they  have  been  allowed  to  do  in  this  matter 
as  it  seemed  right  to  them  ; yet  it  is  a question  worthy 
of  serious  thought,  whether  Congress  ought  not,  by 
law,  to  establish  a uniform  qualification  of  voters,  one 
that  is  alike  in  all  the  States,  whenever  the  elector 
votes  for  President,  Vice  President  or  Congressmen; 
for  the  people  in  all  the  States  are  affected  as  much  by 
the  votes  given  for  those  officers,  in  any  one  State,  as 
they  are  by  those  given  in  their  own. 

3.  But  it  has  always  been  a troublesome  question  to 
determine  in  any  government  where  people  vote  at  all, 
“who  ought,  and  who  ought  not  to  vote?”  In  the 
United  States  the  elective  franchise  is  extended  further 
than  in  most  other  countries.  Yet  this  question  here  has 
caused  a great  amount  of  political  discussion.  The 
Constitutions  of  several  of  the  States  have  been  changed 
in  the  effort  to  adjust  this  question  on  a correct  basis. 
Up  to  this  day,  it  remains  unsettled  in  some  of  its  fea- 
tures and  details.  Some  contending  that  it  is  too 
much  extended,  that  is,  that  it  is  granted  to  persons 
who  ought  not  to  have  it,  while  to  others  it  is  denied. 

*Since  the  above  was  written,  and  since  the  commencement  of  the 
year  1870,  the  Fifteenth  Amendment  of  the  Constitution  has  been 
ratified  by  a sufficient  number  of  the  States,  (three  fourths,)  so  that 
it  is  now  a part  of  that  instrument.  It  annihilates  all  the  laws  of 
every  State  which  prohibited  colored  persons  from  voting.  [See  the 
Fifteenth  Amendment,  p.  412."] 


180 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

Seals. 

1.  Seals  are  of  great  antiquity.  We  read  of  them 
and  of  their  use  as  far  back  as  the  days  of  Queen 
Esther.  They  were  then  used  as  they  are  now,  to  give 
additional  proof  of  the  authenticity  or  genuineness  of 
any  document  or  paper  to  which  they  were  attached; 
it  being  much  easier  to  counterfeit  a mere  signature 
than  the  impression  of  a seal.  They  are  of  various  de- 
vices, patterns  and  designs,  and  generally  are  emblem- 
atic of  some  historical  fact,  event  or  sentiment.  They 
are  used  on  papers  and  documents  emanating  from 
the  government,  or  from  some  department  of  it.  The 
law  requires  them  to  be  attached  and  affixed  to  com- 
missions, and  many  other  papers,  without  which  the 
paper  would  have  no  legality  or  validity.  Formerly, 
the  usual  mode  of  sealing  a paper,  was  to  place  melted 
wax  on  the  margin,  and  then  press  the  seal  into  the 
wax.  This  left  the  impression  of  the  seal,  and  the 
work  was  finished. 

> 2.  But  this  mode  of  affixing  seals  was  rather  a slow 

process,  and  required  more  time  than  could  often 
be  spared  for  that  purpose.  In  view  of  which,  Con- 
gress, in  1854  passed  the  following  law  : 

“In  all  cases  where  a seal  is  necessary  by  law  to  any 
commission,  process,  or  other  instrument  provided  for 
by  the  laws  of  Congress,  it  shall  be  lawful  to  affix  the 
proper  seal  by  making  an  impression  therewith  di- 


SEALS. 


181 


rectly  on  the  paper  to  which  such  seal  is  necessary, 
which  shall  be  as  valid  as  if  made  on  wax  or  other  ad- 
hesive substance.” 

The  United  States  have  a seal,  denominated  “ The 
Great  Seal.”  This  is  in  the  care  and  custody  of  the 
Secretary  of  State,  and  it  is  his  duty  to  affix  it  to  all 
civil  commissions*  to  officers  of  the  United  States,  ap- 
pointed by  the  President,  by  and  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  Senate,  or  by  the  President  alone. 

But  the  law  forbids  it  even  to  be  so  affixed  to  any 
commission,  or  other  instrument,  until  the  President 
has  first  signed  it.  Without  his  signature,  the  instru- 
ment has  no  validity.  The  seal  is  then  affixed  in 
proof  of  the  genuineness  of  his  signature. 

3.  The  Secretary  of  State  and  all  the  other  secre- 
taries of  the  great  departments,  each  have  a seal  of 
office  which  is  affixed  to  commissions,  and  to  other  in- 
struments emanating  from  their  respective  offices. 

Several  of  the  most  important  bureaus  are  required 
by  law  to  have  seals  of  office ; for  example,  the  Land 
Office  and  the  Patent  Office.  When  the  United  States' 
gives  a patent  (title)  to  land,  it  must  be  sealed  by  the 
Land  Office  seal.  A patent  right  must  be  issued 
under  the  seal  of  the  Patent  Office. 

4.  One  of  the  most  common  and  important  uses  of 
seals  arises  from  the  necessity  people  are  often  under 
to  have  copies  of  records,  maps,  and  various  other  pa- 
pers, the  originals  of  which  are  in  some  of  the  depart- 
ments at  Washington,  to  be  used  as  evidence  in  courts, 


*The  word  commission,  here  means  a document  or  certificate,  given 
to  one  who  has  received  an  office,  in  proof  of  his  appointment  to 
md  his  authority  to  discharge  the  duties  of  that  office. 


182  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

where  trials  and  other  legal  proceedings  are  pending. 
In  order  to  provide  for  this  necessity,  Congress  has  en- 
acted that  copies  of  such  records,  maps  and  papers  be- 
longing to  any  of  the  government  officers,  under  the 
signature  of  the  head  of  such  office,  or  of  its  chief 
clerk,  with  the  seal  affixed,  shall  be  as  competent  evi- 
dence in  all  cases  as  their  original  would  be. 

GREAT  SEAL  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


In  chapter  XC  we  have  given  a number  of  forms  of 
seals.  Over  the  name  of  each  State  we  have  placed 
the  great  seal  of  that  State,  or,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  its  coat  of  arms.  These  various  devices  are 
the  mere  conceptions  of  the  artist,  yet  they  are  em- 
blematic of  some  political  sentiment  or  of  some  char- 
acteristic of  that  State. 


BONDS. 


183 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

Bonds. 

1.  The  vast  sums  of  money  annually  collected  from 
duties,  from  the  sale  of  public  lands,  and  from  all 
other  sources  from  which  the  revenue  of  the  nation  is 
raised;  and  then  the  disbursement  of  the  same  to  the 
army,  to  the  navy,  to  the  civil  officers,  and  to  the  vari- 
ous employees  of  the  government,  and  to  the  different 
purposes  for  which  the  public  money  is  appropriated, 
requires  a host  of  officials  and  agents  to  transact  all 
this  business.  Hence  the  government  has  collectors  of 
customs,  collectors  of  taxes,  postmasters,  receivers  of 
money  for  the  sale  of  public  land,  and  so  on  ; all  of 
whom  are  receivers  of  the  public  money.  These  pay 
it  into  the  United  States  Treasury,  from  whence  it  is 
paid  out  directly  to  parties  having  claims  against  the 
government,  or  to  agents  who  disburse  it  to  those  to 
whom  it  is  due. 

By  the  dishonesty  of  the  officers  and  agents  who  re- 
ceive, hold  or  disburse  these  funds,  the  government 
would  be  the  loser,  and  the  people  would  be  defrauded 
of  their  money.  We  say  the  people,  because  every 
man  who  cheats  or  defrauds  the  government,  cheats 
and  defrauds  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  the 
country.  Hence  the  detestable  character  of  public 
swindlers  and  defaulters. 

2.  But  to  guard  against  this  as  far  as  possible,  the 
law  requires  a man  when  he  accepts  of  one  of  these 
offices,  to  take  an  oath,  or  make  a solemn  affirmation, 
promising  faithfully  to  perform  the  duties  of  the  office 
he  enters  upon.  But  even  this  does  not  always  secure 


184  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

honesty.  Some  men  will  violate  their  oaths  for  money. 
A further  remedy  is  resorted  to  for  further  security 
against  dishonesty.  For  this  purpose  laws  have  been 
made,  requiring  all  officers  and  agents  who . receive, 
hold  or  disburse  the  public  money,  to  give  bonds  with 
sufficient  security  for  the  faithful  performance  of  their 
trust.  These  bonds  hold  the  sureties  as  well  as  the 
officer,  and  are  signed  by  one  and  sometimes  two  ox 
three  bondsmen  of  sufficient  means  to  insure  the  gov- 
ernment against  loss.  It  would  be  too  tedious  and 
uninteresting  to  enumerate  all  the  government  officers 
who  have  to  give  bonds  before  they  can  enter  upon 
their  duties.  Therefore  we  stated  before  that  the 
law  requires  all  of  this  class  to  do  so.  We  are  not 
aware  of  any  exceptions. 

These  bonds  are  given  for  various  amounts,  which 
correspond  with  the  amount  of  money  to  be  received 
or  held  by  the  officers  who  execute  them,  and  when 
signed  by  the  office  holder  or  person  bound  to  the 
government,  and  by  his  surety,  are  held  in  the  Trea- 
sury Department  as  security  for  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  whatever  the  bounden  parties  have  agreed  to 
do.  In  case  of  any  failure  or  defalcation,  all  the  par- 
ties signing  the  bond  are  held  responsible  for  the 
amount  named  in  the  bond  ; and  may  be  sued  by  the 
government,  and  made  to  pay  all  damages. 

But  notwithstanding  all  these  precautions,  and  in 
spite  of  oaths  and  bonds,  the  government  is  defrauded 
of  millions  of  money  by  the  very  men  it  favors  with 
positions  of  honor  and  emolument.  Reader,  should 
you  ever  hold  a position  under  your  government,  "let 
not  the  sin  of  perjury  blacken  your  soul,  nor  the 
crime  of  dishonesty  tarnish  your  character.  “ Honesty 
is  the  best  policy/’  “ An  honest  man’s  the  noblest 
work  of  God.” 


OATHS. 


185 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

Oaths. 

1.  An  oath  is  an  appeal  to  God,  by  him  who  makes 
it,  that  what  he  has  said,  or  what  he  shall  say,  is  the 
truth.  It  is  the  most  solemn  form  under  which  one 
can  assert  orpronounce  anything.  To  utter  a falsehood 
while  under  oath  is  perjury,  a crime  of  the  darkest  hue. 
One  which  God  has  declared  he  will  punish,  and  one 
which  is  made  infamous,  and  punishable  by  fine  and 
imprisonment  by  the  laws  of  the  land. 

2.  The  Constitution  (Art.  6,  Sec.  3)  requires  that 
Senators  and  Representatives,  and  members  of  the  sev- 
eral State  Legislatures,  and  all  executive  and  judicial 
officers,  both  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  several 
States,  shall  be  bound  by  oath  or  affirmation  to  support 
the  Constitution.  Then  in  the  second  article,  section 
eight,  the  form  of  the  oath  required  of  the  President 
before  he  enters  upon  his  duties,  is  given  in  these 
words : — 

“ I do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I will  faith- 
fully execute  the  office  of  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  will  to  the  best  of  my  ability  preserve,  pro- 
tect and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.” 

3.  This  is  all  the  Constitution  says  about  oaths;  but 
it  is  enough  to  show  that  no  man  (unless  he  commit 
perjury)  can  accept  office,  either  under  the  United 
States  or  any  State  government,  unless  he  in  good  faith 
will  support  the  Constitution. 


186  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

But  in  the  laws  enacted  by  Congress,  we  find  that 
not  only  official  oaths  are  required;  but  in  a great  va- 
riety of  other  cases,  men  who  transact  business  with 
the  government  are  required  to  verify  their  accounts 
and  statements  with  an  oath.  This  is  particularly  the 
case  with  those  who  do  business  with  the  custom 
house  ; such  as  merchants,  shipowners,  and  masters  of 
vessels.  Many  oaths  must  be  put  in  the  form  of  affi- 
davits ; that  is,  the  oath  must  be  written  and  signed  by 
the  deponent,  that  the  statements  made  may  be  pre- 
served. 

4.  The  form  of  official  oaths  -varies  according  to  the 
nature  of  the  duties  to  be  performed  by  the  deponent. 
The  oath  must  be  taken  before  the  officer  enters  upon 
his  duties.  Should  he  neglect  or  refuse  to  do  this,  his 
acts  will  be  illegal,  and  he  would  make  himself  liable 
to  punishment. 

After  the  late  civil  war  broke  out,  Congress  for  the 
purpose  of  preventing  those  who  had  voluntarily  taken 
part  in  the  rebellion,  from  holding  thereafter  any 
office  under  the  government,  passed  an  act  requiring 
every  one  before  he  could  accept  any  office,  either  in 
the  civil,  military,  or  naval  departments,  to  take  an 
oath  in  the  following  form : — 

5.  I,  A.  B.,  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I have 
never  voluntarily  borne  arms  against  the  United  States, 
since  I have  been  a citizen  thereof ; that  I have  volun- 
tarily given  no  aid,  countenance,  counsel  or  encour- 
agement to  persons  engagedin  armed  hostility  thereto ; 
that  I have  neither  sought,  nor  accepted,  nor  at- 
tempted to  exercise  the  functions  of  any  office  whatev- 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 

TWELFTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


THE  LIBRARY 
Of  !liE 

tilMVEft&lTY  OF  JMJSfliS 


OATHS. 


187 


er,  under  any  authority  or  pretended  authority  in 
hostility  to  the  United  States;  that  I have  not  yielded 
a voluntary  support  to  any  pretended  government,  au- 
thority, power  or  Constitution,  within  the  United 
States,  hostile  or  inimical  thereto.  And  I do  further 
swear  (or  affirm)  that  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and 
ability,  I will  support  and  defend  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  against  all  enemies,  foreign  and  do- 
mestic; that  I will  bear  true  faith  and  allegiance  to  the 
same ; that  I take  this  obligation  freely,  without  any 
mental  reservation  or  purpose  .of  evasion,  and  that  I 
will  well  and  faithfully  discharge  the  duties  of  the 
office  on  which  I am  about  to  enter.  So  help  me 
God.” 

So  strong  and  comprehensive  an  oath  as  this  was 
never  before  required  from  any  officer  of  the  govern- 
ment. It  answers  the  requirements  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, and  substantially  comprehends  all  contained  in 
any  other  forms  heretofore  used.  It  is  at  once  an  oath 
of  allegiance,  an  oath  of  support  of  the  Constitution, 
andanoath  to  discharge  faithfully  the  duties  of  the  office 
taken.  This  goes  by  the  name  of  the  Test  oath,  and 
frequently  “The  Iron-clad  Oath.” 

6.  The  object  of  binding  all  officers  of  the  general 
and  State  governments,  by  oath,  is  to  place  them  under 
the  most  solemn  obligation  to  be  faithful  and  honest  in 
the  discharge  of  their  duties.  They  cannot  be  otherwise 
without  committing  one  of  the  most  flagitious  crimes. 
And  yet,  lamentable  to  say,  men  have  accepted  office 
under  these  most  solemn  obligations,  and  have  after- 
wards utterly  disregarded  them,  and  have  been  unfaith- 


188  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

ful  in  every  respect,  both  in  the  support  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, and  in  the  discharge  of  their  official  duties.  For  this 
cause,  although  we  have  an  excellent  form  of  govern- 
ment, perhaps  the  best  in  the  world,  yet  in  its  admin- 
istration a great  deal  that  is  wrong  and  corrupt  is 
found;  and  fears  have  been  entertained  that  it  would 
be  broken  down  and  destroyed  by  the  corruption  of 
those  who  administer  it.  Good  men  should  always  be 
chosen  to  make  and  administer  the  laws  in  any  coun- 
try, and  under  any  form  of  government. 


REVENUE. 


189 


CHAPTER  XL VI. 

Revenue. 

1.  The  revenue  of  any  government  is  its  income, 
or  money  raised  from  any  source  whatever  to  defray 
the  expenses  incurred  in  its  administration.  These 
expenses  are  always  heavy,  are  counted  by  millions, 
and  the  subjects  or  citizens  of  the  government  must 
pay  them  in  some  way;  either  by  duties  on  imported 
goods,  by  direct  taxation  on  property,  by  payments 
for  certain  rights  and  privileges  conferred  by  the  gov- 
ernment, &c.,  &c.  Different  governments  resort  to 
different  methods  to  raise  their  revenue. 

2.  The  United  States  have  always  raised  the  greater 
part  of  it  by  duties  on  imported  goods.  These  have 
sometimes  been  found  sufficient  to  defray  all  expen- 
ses; and  at  other  times  insufficient,  depending  on  cir- 
cumstances of  a high  or  low  tariff,  or  on  ordinary  or 
extraordinary  expenses  of  government.  In  times  of 
war  all  these  resources  put  together  have  been  insuffi- 
cient, and  it  has  become  necessary  to  borrow  money 
to  sustain  it.  War  expenses  have  been  the  source  of 
most  of  the  national  debts  in  all  countries. 

3.  At  the  close  of  the  civil  war  between  the  North 
and  South,  the  national  debt  amounted  to  nearly 
3,000,000,000  of  dollars;  and  this  in  addition  to  the 
vast  amounts  paid  during  the  existence  of  the  war. 
This  created  the  necessity  for  increasing  the  revenue 
of  the  country,  and  the  government  to  resort  to  direct 
taxation,  in  addition  to  all  its  ordinary  resources,  and 


190  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

to  all  the  money  it  borrowed  to  sustain  the  expenses 
of  the  war.  And  now  after  it  is  over,  the  taxes  are 
continued  for  the  purpose  of  paying  its  enormous  pub- 
lic debt.  This  furnishes  us  with  a forcible  example  of 
one  of  the  great  evils  of  war. 

4.  The  proceeds  of  sales  of  the  public  lands  have 
been  another  source  of  revenue  to  the  United  States, 
which  few  other  governments  possess;  because  their 
territory  is  not  as  extensive  as  ours,  and  they  have  but 
little  if  any  public  lands  to  dispose  of.  The  empires 
of  Russia  and  Brazil  may  be  exceptions  to  this  general 
fact. 

5.  Duties  collected  on  imported  goods,  the  sale  of 
public  lands,  the  income  of  the  Post  Office  Department, 
and  direct  taxation,  (when  resorted  to)  are  the  princi- 
pal sources  from  which  the  revenues  of  the  United 
States  are  raised.  There  are  comparatively  small 
amounts,  however,  raised  from  other  sources;  such  as 
the  duties  paid  upon  the  tonnage  of  vessels,  forfeitures 
of  goods  smuggled  or  attempted  to  be  smuggled  into 
the  country;  forfeiture  of  vessels  engaged  in  the  smug- 
gling business,  prizes  taken  in  time  of  war,  fees  paid 
for  licenses  granted,  and  for  services  rendered  by  cer- 
tain government  officials,  &c.  But  all  these  put  to- 
gether are  insignificant  in  amount  compared  with  the 
first  named. 

6.  The  revenues  of  any  government  afford  a tolera- 
bly correct  indication  of  its  wealth,  population  and 
power.  Small  and  weak  ones  have  small  revenues. 
W ealthy,  populous  and  strong  ones,  have  large  revenues. 


INTERNAL  REVENUE. 


191 


CHAPTER  XL VII. 

Internal  Revenue. 

1.  In  our  chapter  on  Revenue,  we  observed  that  di- 
rect taxation  was  one  of  the  means  to  which  the  gov- 
ernment had  to  resort  when  the  proceeds  from  import 
duties  and  ordinary  sources  fail  to  meet  its  expenses. 

The  late  civil  war  caused  an  emergency  of  this  kind. 
All  former  wars  in  which  the  United  States  had  been 
engaged  did  not  require  one-quarter  of  the  money  for 
their  prosecution  that  this  did ; and  of  course  the  ordi- 
nary revenues  of  the  government  were  entirely  insuffi- 
cient to  defray  its  expenses.  This  state  of  things  became 
apparent  soon  after  the  war  commenced.  To  meet  it, 
Congress,  as  early  as  1861,  (the  war  broke  out  in 
April  of  this  year,)  passed  an  act  called  “ the  Internal 
Revenue  Law,”  by  which  twenty  millions  of  dollars 
were  to  be  raised  annually  by  direct  taxes  upon  houses 
and  lands  in  each  of  the  States  and  Territories  of  the 
United  States. 

2.  By  subsequent  acts  not  only  houses  and  lands 
were  taxed,  but  almost  every  sort  of  property  and  busi- 
ness. Licenses  were  required  for  persons  to  carry  on 
their  profession,  trade  or  business ; incomes  were 
taxed ; deeds,  mortgages,  notes,  bonds,  bank  checks, 
and  papers  of  almost  every  kind  were  invalid  unless 
they  had  a revenue  stamp  upon  them.  Manufacturers 
had  to  pay  such  a per-centage  on  whatever  they  made. 
Scarcely  any  calling,  trade,  profession,  or  business  or 
thing  escaped  it,  directly  or  indirectly. 

13 


192  OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

So  thorough  a taxation  the  people  never  experienced 
before ; and  it  is  to  be  hoped  they  never  will  again. 
This  is  one  of  the  fruits  of  war.  But  what  makes  this 
doubly  aggravating,  is  that  this  was  a civil  war.  The 
people  have  this  enormous  load  of  taxation  to  carry  to 
pay  for  killing  each  other.  When  will  men  learn  war 
no  more  ? When  will  men  cease  to  be  wicked  and 
foolish  ? 

3.  To  carry  out  the  objects  and  provisions  of  this 
bill,  it  became  necessary,  in  the  first  place,  to  divide 
every  State  and  Territory  into  collection  districts,  en- 
tirely different,  however,  from  the  collection  districts 
for  the  collection  of  the  custom  duties.  These,  as 
stated  in  another  place,  are  located  along  the  sea  coast, 
and  on  the  shores  of  gulfs,  bays  and  sounds,  or  on  the 
shores  of  such  navigable  lakes  and  rivers  as  are  acces- 
sible to  vessels  from  some  foreign  country ; whereas, 
the  collection  districts  for  the  collection  of  internal  rev- 
enue are  necessarily  located  in  every  part  of  each  State 
and  Territory,  as  much  inland  as  along  the  coast.  As 
far  as  practicable,  they  are  made,  both  in  number  and 
territory,  identical  with  the  Congressional  districts. 

4.  This  law  also  made  it  necessary  to  create  a host 
of  new  officers  to  execute  its  provisions.  In  the  first 
place,  an  officer  is  appointed  in  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment, and  denominated  the  commissioner  of  internal 
revenue.  He  is,  like  all  officers  of  his  grade,  appoin- 
ted by  the  President  and  Senate,  and  receives  a salary 
of  four  thousand  dollars  per  annum.  He  is  charged 
with  the  duty  (under  the  direction  of  the  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury)  of  preparing  all  the  instructions,  forms, 


INTERNAL  REVENUE. 


193 


blanks,  stamps  and  licenses  to  be  used  throughout  the 
country,  by  all  officers  and  agents  employed  in  the  col- 
lection of  these  taxes,  and  to  see  to  the  execution  of 
the  law  relating  thereto. 

5.  Then  comes  an  assessor  and  a collector,  each  with 
a deputy  or  deputies  if  need  be,  for  every  district.  One 
to  assess  the  value  of  all  the  property  liable  to  taxa- 
tion, and  the  other  to  collect  and  receive  the  moneys  so 
assessed.  The  collectors  pay  the  moneys  so  received 
into  the  Treasury  at  Washington,  or  into  such  banks  or 
other  places  as  may  be  directed  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury. 

The  money  to  be  thus  raised  is  apportioned  to  each 
State  and  Territory  in  proportion  to  their  representa- 
tion in  Congress  ; and  a separate  account  of  this  tax  is 
kept  in  the  Treasury  Department  with  each  State  and 
Territory. 

6.  Much  more  might  be  said  about  other  subordinate 
officers  and  agents  employed  by  the  government  for 
the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  reve- 
nue laws  ; and  much  more  might  be  said  about  many 
of  its  details ; for  it  contains  an  unusual  number  ot 
provisions,  in  no  less  than  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
nine  sections.  But  many  of  these  have  already  been 
changed  by  subsequent  acts ; and  will  probably  be  mod- 
ified by  every  Congress  that  may  meet,  until  the  whole 
law  shall  become  unnecessary  by  the  paying  off  of  the 
whole  national  debt,  or  such  a reduction  of  it  as  will 
enable  the  government  to  dispense  with  this  extraor- 
dinary means  of  meeting  its  obligations.  The  very 
frequent  modifications  of  all  the  tax  laws,  renders  it 
quite  unnecessary  to  dwell  with  much  minuteness  on 
their  provisions  in  detail. 

I hope  this  outline  of  the  objects  of  the  law,  and  the 
account  given  of  the  principal  officers  engaged  in  car> 
rying  it  into  effect,  will  satisfy  the  general  reader. 


194 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XL VIII. 

Custom  House  and  Custom  House  Officers. 

1.  Custom  houses  are  government  offices,  generally 
located  in  seaport  cities  and  towns,  for  the  purpose  of 
collecting  the  duties  charged  upon  imported  goods. 
Nearly  all  goods  brought  from  foreign  countries  into 
the  United  States,  are  brought  by  ships  and  other  ves- 
sels by  sea.  Hence  seaports  are  the  popular  localities 
for  custom  houses.  Ports  wdiere  they  are  established, 
are  called  ports  of  entry  Here  vessels  from  foreign 
ports  are  allowed  to  enter,  and  here  the  duties  on  for- 
eign goods  are  collected  by  custom  house  officers  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose. 

The  principal  of  these  officials  is  called  collector  of 
customs.  He  is  appointed  by  the  President  and  Sen- 
ate, and  holds  his  office  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Pres- 
ident. This  office  is  one  of  great  responsibility ; for 
the  collectors  of  customs  receive  and  pay  over  into  the 
United  States  Treasury  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the 
revenues  of  the  country ; that  is,  under  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances. But  under  the  present  extraordinary  ex- 
igencies of  the  nation,  which  grew  out  of  the  late  civil 
war,  the  government  has  been  obliged  to  resort  to  di- 
rect taxation  to  sustain  its  expenses;  and  a larger 
amount  has  been  raised  by  this  means  than  by  duties 
on  imports. 

2.  A collector  of  customs  is  therefore  required  to  give 
heavy  bonds  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties. 


CUSTOM  HOUSES. 


195 


He  must  give  his  bonds  and  take  his  official  oath  be- 
fore entering  upon  his  duties,  which  are  numerous  and 
various.  He  has  the  power,  also,  with  the  approbation 
of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  to  appoint  the  subor- 
dinate custom  house  officers,  such  as  weighers,  measur- 
ers, gaugers,  inspectors,  watchmen,  store  keepers,  &c. 
These  he  nominates,  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
confirms  or  rejects  them. 

HIS  DUTIES. 

3.  These  duties  require  him  to  collect  all  duties 
which  Congress  has  imposed  on  every  kind  of  im- 
ported goods  brought  into  the  port  or  ports  of  which 
he  is  the  collector.  In  order  to  do  this  he  requires  a 
deputy,  and  in  large  ports,  several  of  them,  whom  he 
appoints,  together  with  as  many  of  the  above  named 
subordinates  as  the  business  done  at  the  port  requires. 

He  must  receive  all  reports,  manifests,  and  docu- 
ments to  be  exhibited  on  the  entry  of  any  ship  or  ves- 
sel, whether  domestic  or  foreign  ; and  all  accounts  of 
all  the  goods  they  have  on  board.  He  must  estimate 
the  duties  to  be  paid  thereon,  receive  the  moneys  paid 
therefor,  and  take  all  bonds  for  securing  the  payment 
thereof,  and  grant  all  permits  for  landing  the  goods. 
Once  in  three  months  he  must  transmit  all  moneys  col- 
lected by  him  to  the  Treasury  Department  at  Washing- 
ton, together  with  full  and  accurate  accounts  of  all 
his  transactions  relating  to  the  collection  of  duties  at 
the  port  of  which  he  is  collector. 

4.  He  must  examine  the  manifests  not  only  of  all 
ships  and  vessels  with  their  cargoes  which  arrive  with- 
in the  port  or  district  for  which  he  is  collector,  but 


196  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

also  those  of  all  vessels  which  depart  from  thence  to 
foreign  countries.  In  this  way  the  government  ob- 
tains a knowledge  of  the  amount  and  value  of  the 
whole  exports  and  imports  of  the  country.  He 
must  also  give  clearances  to  all  vessels  when  they  sail 
from  his  port  for  foreign  ports  or  countries.  Ho  ves- 
sel can  lawfully  depart  without  such  clearance. 

5.  The  manifests  and  clearances  of  ships  and  vessels 
are  so  often  spoken  of  in  the  laws  relating  to  com- 
merce, navigation  and  the  revenue,  that  it  may  be  in- 
teresting and  useful  to  those  not  familiar  with  these 
matters,  to  give  the  form  of  an  American  manifest  and 
clearance.  These  are  among  the  most  important  of  a 
ship’s  papers. 

A ship’s  clearance. 

6.  This  document  is  couched  in  the  following  terms: 

“ District  of  " Port  of  ,ss. 

“These  are  to  certify,  to  all  whom  it  may  concern, 
that  A.  B.  master  or  commander  of  the  ship  (brig, 
barque,  schooner),  burthen  tons  or  thereabouts, 

mounted  with  guns,  navigated  with  men, 

built,  and  bound  for  , having  on  board  , 
hath  here  entered  and  cleared  his  said  vessel  according 
to  law. 

“ Given  under  our  hands  and  seals,  at  the  custom 
house  of  , this.  day  of  , one 

thousand  , and  in  the  year  of  the  Inde- 

pendence of  the  United  States  of  America.” 

This  is  signed  by  the  collector  and  by  the  naval  of- 
ficer of  the  port,  when  the  commander  is  prepared  to 
depart  with  his  vessel  to  his  destined  port. 


CUSTOM  HOUSES. 


19T 


A SHIP’S  MANIFEST. 

This  is  a document  of  a very  different  character. 
Its  principal  object  is  to  show  of  what  her  cargo  con- 
sists, in  quantity,  kind  and  value.  The  form  of  a mani- 
fest is  as  follows: 

“ Report  and  manifest  of  the  cargo  laden  on  board 
of  the  , whereof  is  master,  which  car- 
go was  taken  on  board  at  the  port  or  ports  of  , bur- 
then tons,  built  at  , in  the  State  of  , and 

owned  by  , merchants  at  , and  bound  for 

This,  together  with  a particular  description  of  the 
marks  and  numbers  of  every  bale,  box,  case,  barrel, 
bundle  or  parcel  on  board  of  the  vessel,  is  the  mani- 
fest. It  must  be  given  to  the  collector  of  whatever 
port  the  vessel  arrives  at;  and  the  master  of  her  must 
swear  that  it  is  in  all  respects  a true  and  accurate  ac- 
count of  all  the  cargo  on  board,  to  the  best  of  his 
knowledge  and  belief. 

8.  The  collector  of  the  port  can  then  compute  the 
duties  to  be  paid  upon  each  article,  and  when  these 
are  paid',  or  secured  to  be  paid,  he  gives  permits  to  land 
the  cargo,  and  deliver  the  goods  to  their  respective 
owners.  Then  come  in  the  duties  of  weighers,  gaug- 
ers, measurers  and  inspectors  of  the  customs,  after  per- 
mits are  obtained  to  land  the  goods.  If  they  are  such 
as  require  to  be  weighed,  gauged  or  measured,  these 
officers  are  sent  to  do  it ; and  the  inspector  must  allow 
nothing  to  leave  the  ship  until  he  has  examined  the 
marks  and  numbers,  to  see  if  they  correspond  with 
the  permit  and  the  manifest.  If  he  suspects  that 
there  is  an  attempt  to  defraud  the  government  by  false 


198  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

names  and  marks,  he  is  authorized  to  open  the  pack- 
age, box,  case,  cask,  or  whatever  contains  the  goods, 
and  to  examine  them.  In  this  way  smuggling  is  pre- 
vented, and  the  revenues  arising  from  duties  on  im- 
ported goods  secured. 

9.  The  compensation  of  collectors  of  customs  va- 
ries from  a few  hundreds  to  many  thousands  of  dol- 
lars per  year.  It  depends  upon  the  amount  of  busi- 
ness done  at  the  port.  At  New  York,  Boston,  Phila- 
delphia, New  Orleans,  Baltimore  and  San  Francisco, 
the  compensation  is  enormous,  and  should  be  reduced; 
for,  in  addition  to  their  salaries  and  fees  for  services 
rendered,  they  receive  a part  of  the  forfeitures  of 
goods  smuggled  or  attempted  to  be  smuggled  into  the 
country. 

SURVEYORS. 

10.  Next  to  the  collector  in  rank  and  authority, 
among  custom  house  officers,  is  the  surveyor  of  the 
port.  He  aids  the  collector  in  collecting  the  revenue ; 
but  his  duties  are  of  a different  character.  He  is  ap- 
pointed in  the  same  manner  as  the  collector,  and  for 
four  years ; but  may  be  removed  by  the  President  at 
his  pleasure.  His  compensation,  like  that  of  the  col- 
lector, depends  on  the  amount  of  business  at  the  port. 

HIS  DUTIES. 

11.  He  must  superintend  and  direct  all  inspectors, 
weighers,  measurers  and  gaugers  within  his  port,  and 
must  visit  all  vessels  arriving  therein,  and  report  the 
same  to  the  collector,  with  a description  of  each,  of 
her  nationality,  cargo,  &o.  It  is  also  his  duty  to  ex- 
amine all  go.ods  entered  for  the  benefit  of  drawback. 


CUSTOM  HOUSES. 


199 


THE  NAVAL  OFFICER. 

12.  The  naval  officer  is  another  of  the  principal 
custom  house  officers  employed  in  the  collection  of 
the  revenue.  He  is  appointed  in  the  same  way  as 
the  collector  and  the  surveyor,  and  is  removable  in 
the  same  manner.  His  compensation,  also,  is  depend- 
ent on  the  same  circumstances.  His  duties,  to  some 
extent,  are  the  same  as  the  collector’s,  and  serve  as  a 
check  or  a sort  of  re-examination  of  his  work,  for  the 
sake  of  accuracy  and  correctness.  Hence  it  is  his 
duty  to  receive  copies  of  all  manifests  and  entries,  and 
to  compute  the  duties  on  all  goods  subject  to  pay 
duties.  He  must  keep  a separate  record  thereof.  He 
must  countersign  all  permits,  clearances,  certificates, 
debentures,  and  other  documents  to  be  granted  by  the 
collector.  He  must  also  examine  the  collector’s  com- 
putation of  duties,  and  his  receipts,  bonds,  and  expen- 
ditures, and  certify  their  correctness,  if  found  right. 

COMMISSIONER  OF  CUSTOMS. 

13.  In  the  year  1849  a new  bureau  wras  created  by 
act  of  Congress  in  the  Treasury  Department,  the  head 
of  which  is  styled  “ the  commissioner  of  customs.” 
This  was  done  to  increase  the  operative  power  of  the 
department,  and  to  relieve  the  first  comptroller  of 
the  Treasury,  whose  duties  had  become  too  onerous 
to  be  efficiently  performed  by  one  man.  By  the  act 
in  question,  all  the  duties  and  powers  of  the  first 
comptroller  of  the  Treasury,  so  far  as  they  related 
to  receipts  from  customs,  and  to  the  accounts  of  col- 
lectors and  other  officers  of  customs,  were  transferred 


200  OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

to  the  new  commissioner  and  bureau  under  his  super* 
vision.  Hence  it  became  his  duty  to  examine  and 
adjust  all  accounts  with  custom  house  officers,  to 
prepare  forms  of  all  papers  to  be  used  in  the  collection 
of  the  revenue  from  customs,  and  to  direct  the  form 
and  manner  of  keeping  accounts  of  the  same;  to  bring 
suits  for  the  recovery  of  all  debts  due  from  revenue 
officers,  and  to  report  to  Congress  any  default  or 
neglect  of  duty  on  their  part.  This  affords  another 
example  of  the  manner  in  which  Congress  is  made  ac- 
quainted wuth  the  conduct  of  government  officials, 
and  the  state  of  things  in  every  department  and  bureau. 
The  commissioner  of  customs  is  appointed  by  the 
President  and  Senate,  holds  his  office  for  the  same 
time,  and  receives  the  same  compensation  as  the  first 
comptroller  of  the  Treasury. 


THE  PUBLIC  LANDS. 


201 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

The  Public  Lands. 

1.  The  whole  area  of  land  lying  within  the  bound- 
aries of  the  United  States,  is,  according  to  published 
official  statements,  3,400,000  square  miles,  or  2,176,000,- 
000  acres.  Before  the  establishment  of  the  present 
government,  and  during  our  colonial  condition,  much 
of  this  land  had  been  sold  and  otherwise  disposed  of 
by  the  English  government,  and  had  become  the  pro- 
perty of  individuals.  Their  possessions  were  not  dis- 
turbed by  the  United  States  or  by  any  of  the  State 
governments  after  the  Revolution,  which  changed  the 
whole  country  from  the  possession  of  the  English  to 
that  of  the  American  government;  with  the  exception 
of  that  which  belonged  to  those  who  were  enemies  to 
the  United  States  during  the  Revolution.  This  was 
confiscated,  and  fell  back  into  the  possession  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  or  of  the  States  in  which  it  laid. 

2.  But  all  which  had  not  been  disposed  of  became 
the  property  of  the  government,  excepting  such  por- 
tions as  belonged  to  the  Indians — the  original  owners 
of  the  whole  of  America.  Thus  the  government  be- 
came a great  land  holder  from  its  very  outset.  From 
this,  and  from  what  follows,  it  will  be  seen  that  it  has 
been  one  of  the  greatest  land  dealers  in  the  world ; for 
in  addition  to  that  here  spoken  of,  it  has  purchased 
immense  tracts,  from  which  many  of  the  present  States 
and  Territories  were  formed. 


202  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

The  Louisiana  purchase,  as  it  has  always  been 
termed,  was  made  of  France  in  1803.  Out  of  it  the 
States  of  Louisiana,  Arkansas  and  Missouri  were 
formed.  The  sum  of  $15,000,000  was  paid  for  it. 
Then  in  the  year  1819,  the  United  States  by  treaty 
purchased  Florida  of  Spain.  In  1836,  Texas  seceded 
from  Mexico,  and  after  a war  with  her  gained  her  in- 
dependence, and  in  1845  asked  to  be  admitted  as  one 
of  the-United  States.  This  proposition  was  accepted, 
and  she  was  admitted  accordingly.  All  her  public 
lands  came  into  the  possession  of  our  government. 

3.  Subsequently  to  this,  and  after  the  late  war  with 
Mexico,  we  purchased  of  her  all  the  northern  part  of 
that  country,  embracing  California,  New  Mexico  and 
other  extensive  regions.  This  again  added  several 
hundred  thousand  square  miles  to  our  public  domain. 

To  all  these  must  be  added  the  immense  tracts 
bought  of  the  Indians.  And  to  all  of  which  must  be 
added  the  great  purchase  made  early  in  the  year  1867, 
from  Russia,  of  all  her  possessions  in  North  America, 
for  $7,000,000  in  gold.  This  increases  our  public  do- 
main, by  between  three  and  four  hundred  thousand 
square  miles. 

4.  But  the  government  does  not  want  all  this  land. 
It  has  no  use  for  more  than  a few  acres  in  certain  loca- 
tions, for  the  sites  of  public  buildings  and  of  military 
works. 

The  object,  therefore,  is  to  sell  it  to  those  who  want  it 
for  farms  and  other  purposes,  that  it  may  furnish  homes 
for  the  people,  be  made  productive,  and  thus  add 
to  the  wealth  of  the  nation.  To  accomplish  this  a 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


THE  PUBLIC  LANDS. 


203 


General  Land  Office  was  established  by  act  of  Congress, 
in  1812,  at  Washington.  This  office  was  at  first  at- 
tached to,  or  was  a bureau  of  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment, but  in  1849  it  was  attached  to  the  Department 
of  the  Interior.  The  head  of  this  office  is  called 

COMMISSIONER  OF  THE  GENERAL  LAND  OFFICE. 

5.  He  is  appointed  by  the  President  and  Senate,  must 
take  the  usual  official  oath  before  entering  on  his  duties, 
and  must  give  the  usual  official  bond.  He  keeps  the 
seal  of  his  office,  and  fixes  an  impression  of  it  upon 
all  papers  emanating  from  the  Land  Office.  He,  with 
his  clerks  and  assistants  form  the  bureau,  keep  all  the 
records  and  papers  pertaining  to  the  public  lands,  and 
perform  all  duties  relating  thereto.  He  receives  re- 
ports from  surveyors  and  from  the  district  land  offi- 
cers, gives  them  their  instructions,  and  reports  to  the 
President  and  to  Congress  when  required  to  do  so. 

He  issues  all  patents  for  lands  granted  by  the  United 
States,  and  sends  and  receives  by  mail  all  papers  and 
documents  relating  to  his  official  business,  under  the 
franking  privilege.  Every  patenf  for  land  is  issued  in 
the  name  of  the  United  States,  is  signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent and  by  the  commissioner  of  the  Land  Office,  and 
is  then  recorded  in  books  kept  for  that  purpose. 

SURVEYORS  GENERAL  AND  DEPUTY  SURVEYORS. 

6.  When  it  is  deemed  necessary  and  expedient  to 
bring  the  lands  in  any  particular  State  or  section  of 
the  country  into  market,  a surveyor  general  is  ap- 
pointed for  that  State  or  section,  and  also  a sufficient 
number  of  deputy  or  assistant  surveyors  to  perform 


204  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

the  work ; which  is  done  under  the  direction  of  the 
surveyor  general,  who  is  himself  directed  by  law  as  to 
the  manner  of  procedure.  He  is  appointed  for  four 
years,  taking  the  usual  oath,  and  gives  bonds  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  his  duties. 

MODE  OF  SURVEYING  THE  PUBLIC  LANDS. 

7.  The  law  directs  how  the  lands  shall  be  surveyed 
and  mapped.  Where  it  is  practicable,  they  are  laid 
out  into  square  miles,  each  of  which  contains  640 
acres,  and  is  called  a section. 

These  sections  are  then  sub-divided  into  halves, 
quarters  and  eighths  of  sections  ; that  is,  into  lots  of 
320,  160  and  80  acres.  The  boundary  lines  are  all  run 
north  and  south,  and  east  and  west.  Thirty-six  of 
these  sections,  which  make  a plat  of  six  miles  square, 
are  put  into  a township.  These  townships  are  desig- 
nated by  numbers,  but  when  inhabited  are  named  by 
the  inhabitants  as  their  fancy  dictates. 

SALE  OF  THE  PUBLIC  LANDS. 

8.  After  the  lands  have  been  surveyed  and  properly 
mapped  into  townships  and  sections,  they  are  brought 
into  market  and  offered  for  sale  in  such  quantities  as 
are  wanted  by  the  purchaser;  from  40  acres,  one  six- 
teenth of  a section,  up  to  a whole  section ; or  as  many 
sections  as  the  buyer  pleases  to  take. 

DISTRICT  LAND  OFFICES. 

9.  District  land  offices  for  the  sale  of  lands  are  es- 
tablished for  this  purpose  at  as  many  places  in  the 
State  or  Territory  where  the  lands  are  situated,  as  is 
deemed  necessary  for  the  convenience  of  purchasers. 


THE  PUBLIC  LANDS 


205 


Here  are  kept  maps  of  all  the  lands  lying  in  the  dis- 
trict, and  buyers  may  make  their  selections  both  of 
quantity  and  location  as  suits  them.  Here  they  will 
find 

A REGISTER  OF  THE  LAND  OFFICE  AND  A RECEIVER  OF 
PUBLIC  MONEYS  FOR  LANDS. 

10.  The  first  named  officer  will  register  the  applica- 
tion made  for  land  in  a book  kept  for  that  purpose, 
and  the  second  will  receive  the  money  paid  for  it. 
These  officers  are  appointed  by  the  President  and  Sen- 
ate, and  report  their  proceedings  to  the  General  Land 
Office  at  Washington.  The  receiver  transmits  all 
moneys  received  by  him  to  the  United  States  Treasury 
once  in  a month  or  once  in  three  months,  as  directed. 

SCHOOL  LANDS. 

11.  As  before  stated,  the  public  lands  are  surveyed 
into  sections  of  one  mile  square,  and  thirty-six  of  these 
sections  make  a township.  For  the  purpose  of  en- 
couraging education,  Congress  has  enacted  that  section 
number  16  in  every  township,  shall  not  be  sold,  but 
reserved  for  the  township,  to  be  applied  to  the  support 
of  common  schools  in  that  town.  By  this  measure  the 
government  appropriated  one  thirty-sixth  part  of  its 
lands  to  aid  the  wTork  of  educating  the  children  in  the 
new  States.  And  in  addition  to  this  it  has  made  other 
munificent  donations  of  land  for  the  establishment  and 
support  of  colleges  and  other  institutions  of  learning. 

12.  In  addition  to  all  this  the  United  States  have  do- 
nated large  tracts  of  land  to  the  several  States  in 
which  it  lay,  to  aid  them  in  building  their  State 


206  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

houses,  &c.  Large  quantities  of  land  have  also  been 
given  to  aid  the  construction  of  railroads. 

HOMESTEADS. 

13.  The  government  has  always  sold  its  lands  at  a 
very  low  price,  preferring  to  give  the  people  cheap 
farms,  rather  than  to  raise  more  revenue  from  this  I 
source. 

But  in  1862,  Congress  passed  an  act  called  “ the 
Homestead  Law,”  the  object  of  which  was  to  cheapen 
the  public  lands  to  a mere  nominal  price  to  heads  of 
families,  male  or  female,  or  to  persons  21  years  of  age 
or  over,  or  to  persons  who  had  served  in  the  army  or 
navy  of  the  United  States,  whether  21  years  old  or 
not.  ’ By  the  provisions  of  this  act  such  persons  are 
allowed,  for  the  trifling  sum  of  ten  dollars,  to  enter 
upon  and  claim  160  acres  of  land,  provided  the  claim- 
ant swears  that  the  land  is  applied  for  his  or  her  own 
use,  and  for  settlement  and  cultivation.  But  no  patent 
(deed)  is  to  be  given  until  the  applicant  has  actually 
settled  upon  and  cultivated  the  land  for  the  space  of 
five  years.  Such  applicant  must  also  make  affidavit 
that  he  has  never  borne  arms  against  the  United 
States. 

By  this  liberal  policy,  persons  of  very  limited 
means  may  provide  themselves  with  comfortable 
homes  for  life ; and  the  unoccupied  lands  wTill  be  set- 
tled and  occupied  faster  than  if  the  old  price  of  one 
dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre  had  been  de- 
manded. The  revenue  from  the  sale  of  lands  will  of 
course  be  less,  but  the  wealth  of  the  country  will  un- 
doubtedly be  increased  by  the  measure. 


THE  PUBLIC  LANDS. 


207 


MINERAL  LANDS. 

14.  Exceedingly  rich  and  valuable  mines  of  gold,  sil- 
ver, copper,  lead  and  other  minerals  have  been  found 
upon  the  public  lands.  That  the  benefits  of  mining 
them  might  be  extended  to  the  many,  instead  of  being 
monopolized  by  a few,  a different  rule  for  selling  them 
has  been  made.  After  they  have  been  surveyed,  map- 
ped and  described,  they,  like  other  lands,  are  offered 
for  sale,  but  in  quantities  of  not  more  than  40  acres. 
These  are  generally  sold  at  auction,  but  no  bid  less  than 
five  dollars  per  acre  will  be  received. , If  not  sold  at 
public  sale,  they  are  then  subject  to  private  sale  at  that 
price. 

REVENUE  FROM  LANDS. 

15.  Any  one  can  easily  comprehend  what  almost 
boundless  wealth  there  is  in  these  public  lands;  and 
although  the  government  has  not  realized  as  much  rev- 
enue from  them  as  it  might  have  done  had  it  held  them 
at  higher  prices,  yet  to  the  purchasers,  the  people,  they 
are  worth  ten  times  more  than  the  government  re- 
ceived for  them.  Yet  notwithstanding  the  low  prices, 
they  have  yielded  and  will  long  continue  to  yield  a 
considerable  part  of  the  revenues  of  the  country. 

LEGISLATION  RELATIVE  TO  THE  PUBLIC  LANDS. 

16.  This  vast  estate,  which  the  people  of  the  United 
States  own  in  their  public  lands,  is  constantly  changing 
its  character  from  that  of  public  to  that  of  private 
property;  for  the  government  is  disposing  of  more  or 
less  of  it  every  year  to  individuals.  By  this  process 
the  public  dominion  is  diminishing,  but  private  prop- 

14 


208 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


erty  is  as  constantly  increasing.  The  land  only  changes 
owners,  and  is  converted  from  an  unproductive  to 
a productive  state,  and  this  augments  the  wealth  of  the 
nation. 

17.  It  is  easy  to  understand  that  it  has  required  a great 
amount  of  care,  labor  and  legislation  to  manage  and 
take  care  of  so  great  an  estate.  Surveys,  maps  and 
records  of  it,  must  be  made  and  preserved  at  Washing- 
ton ; and  Congress  has  found  it  necessary  at  almost,  if 
not  at  every  session,  to  pass  acts  in  relation  to  it.  All 
the  laws  enacted  relative  to  the  public  lands  would, 
if  collected  into  one  book,  make  a ponderous  volume. 


\ 


BOUNTY  LAND  AND  LAND  WARRANTS. 


209 


CHAPTER  L. 

Bounty  Land  and  Land  Warrants. 

1.  Bounty  lands  are  lands  given  by  the  government 
to  the  officers  and  men  who  have  served  their  country, 
either  in  the  army  or  navy.  Everybody  knows  that 
the  pay  of  soldiers  in  the  army,  and  seamen  in  the  na- 
vy, is  small.  For  this  reason  our  government  donated 
a certain  quantity  of  land  to  each  officer  and  private, 
as  a further  compensation  for  their  services.  The 
quantity  given  was  made  to  depend  on  the  length  of  time 
spent  in  the  service.  Those  who  engaged  to  serve  a 
year,  and  actually  served  nine  months,  receive  160 
acres.  Those  who  engaged  to  serve  six  months,  and 
actually  served  four  months,  received  80  acres;  and 
those  who  served  one  month,  received  40  acres.  Ho 
distinction  was  made  between  officers  and  privates, 
because  officers  received  higher  wages  than  privates. 

2.  The  United  States  own  such  vast  quantities  of 
land  that  they  could  in  this  way  compensate  the  sol- 
diers better,  with  a less  burden  of  taxation  upon  the 
people,  than  other  nations.  Immense  quantities  of  the 
public  lands  have  been  disposed  of  in  this  way,  and 
many  a soldier  has  thus  been  furnished  with  a home 
and  with  a competence  for  life.  In  case  of  his  death 
in  battle,  or  before  he  received  his  land,  it  was  given 
to  his  widow  or  children  if  he  had  any. 

Every  one  entitled  to  land,  for  military  or  naval  ser- 
vices, receives  from  the  Department  of  the  Interior  a 
certificate,  or  land  warrant,  as  it  is  more  specifically 


210  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

termed,  and  this  entitles  him  to  go  anywhere  upon  the 
public  lands  which  have  been  surveyed  and  brought  in- 
to market,  and  not  otherwise  disposed  of,  and  select 
the  quantity  named  in  his  warrant,  which  is  often  de- 
nominated a military  land  warrant.  Upon  the  return 
of  this  certificate  or  warrant  to  the  land  office,  with 
proof  of  the  location  of  the  land,  the  government  gives 
the  owner  a patent  or  government  deed  of  it,  which  is 
the  best  title  to  land  that  a man  can  have. 

3.  Land  warrants  are  often  bought  and  sold  like 
stocks,  for  whoever  lawfully  holds  the  warrant,  wheth- 
er for  service  or  by  purchase,  is  entitled  to  the  land. 

So  careful  has  the  government  been  to  secure  the 
benefits  of  this  provision  to  those  who  have  served 
their  country  in  time  of  war,  that  it  does  not  allow 
land  granted  for  military  services  to  be  sold  for  the 
debts  of  the  warrantee  before  he  has  received  his  pat- 
ent. 


DUTIES  AND  TARIFFS. 


211 


CHAPTER  LI. 

Duties  and  Tariffs, 

1.  Few  if  any  questions  or  subjects  ever  came  before 
the  National  Legislature,  which  have  required  more 
legislation,  caused  more  debate,  or  brought  out  a 
greater  diversity  of  opinion,  than  those  relating  to  du- 
ties and  tariffs. 

Duties  are  the  taxes  which  the  government  imposes 
upon  goods  imported  from  foreign  countries  into  our 
own.  This  is  not  peculiar  to  our  government,  for  all 
others  do  the  same  thing. 

In  ours  two  different  objects  have  been  sought  by 
the  imposition  of  duties,  both  of  which  are  clearly 
stated  in  the  preamble  to  the  first  act  ever  passed  by 
Congress  (July  4th,  1789),  on  this  subject.  They  are 
in  these  words:  “ Whereas  it  is  necessary  for  the  sup- 

port of  the  government , for  the  discharge  of  the  debts  of 
the  United  States,  and  the  encouragement  and  protection 
of  manufactures , that  duties  be  laid  on  goods,  wares  and 
merchandise  imported. ” 

First,  the  support  of  government. 

Second,  protection  to  our  own  manufactures. 

2.  A government  is  an  expensive  institution,  and 
requires  a great  deal  of  money  to  carry  it  on.  This 
must  be  had  from  some  source.  To  raise  it  by  the  im- 
position of  taxes  or  duties  on  merchandise  imported 
from  foreign  countries,  has  been  considered  the  cheap- 
est mode  of  collecting  it,  and  the  least  burdensome  up- 
on the  people.  Hence  by  far  the  greatest  part  of  the 


212 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


revenue  of  the  United  States  has  been  raised  in  this 
way.  Then  comes  the  second  object;  which  is  to  raise 
the  price  of  imported  articles  by  just  as  much  as  the 
duty  on  them  amounts  to,  thus  enabling  our  own  man- 
ufactures to  compete  with  those  of  foreign  countries. 
It  has  been  thought  to  be  a good  policy  to  make  our 
own  goods  as  far  as  we  can,  and  thus  render  our- 
selves more  independent  of  foreign  countries.  But  on 
this  question  there  have  been  two  opinions,  which  have 
been  so  strong  as  to  form  the  principal  difference  be- 
tween different  political  parties ; one  contending  that 
the  tariff  (rate  of  duties)  should  be  so  low  that  only 
money  enough  should  be  raised  from  duties  to  support 
the  government ; or,  in  other  words,  that  the  duties  on 
imports  should  be  so  graduated  as  to  bring  the  great- 
est amount  into  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States, 
without  regard  to  the  question  of  protection  to  home 
manufactures;  or,  that  the  incidental  protection  a low 
tariff  would  give,  was  sufficient. 

3.  On  the  other  side  it  is  contended  that  our  best 
policy  is,  and  that  our  economical  interests  would  be 
best  promoted  by,  imposing  so  high  a duty  on  impor- 
ted goods  as  to  prevent  to  some  extent  their  importar 
tion,  and  thus  to  build  up  American  manufactures. 
Much  has  been  said  and  much  has  been  written  on 
both  sides  of  this  question,  both  in  and  out  of  Congress, 
and  the  policy  of  the  government  is  unsettled  to  this 
day.  Hence  the  great  amount  of  legislation  on  this 
Subject.  Sometimes  the  high  tariff  party,  having  a 
majority  in  Congress,  would  pass  an  act  fixing  a 
high  rate  of  duties  ; and  when  the  low  tariff  party 


DUTIES  AND  TARIFFS. 


213 


gained  the  ascendency,  they  would  change  the  tariff, 
and  fix  the  duties  at  a lower  rate.  For  the  last  thirty 
years  the  government  has  been  vibrating  between  these 
two  systems^  very  much  to  the  detriment  of  our  pros- 
perity, and  the  question  still  remains  unsettled,  and  will 
probably  be  submitted  to  as  many  changes  in  the  future 
as  it  has  been  in  the  past. 

4.  The  collection  of  duties  on  imports  is  a very  large 
branch  of  the  business  of  the  government,  requiring  a 
great  many  custom  houses  and  custom  house  officers. 
There  are  probably  two  hundred  of  the  former  in  all 
the  States ; yet  most  of  the  revenue  is  collected  at  a 
few  of  the  largest  seaport  cities,  such  as  New  York, 
Philadelphia, Boston,  Baltimore,  New  Orleans  and  San 
Francisco.  Every  seaport  where  vessels  from  foreign 
countries  are  allowed  to  come  in  and  discharge  their 
cargoes,  and  pay  the  duties  thereon,  is  called  a port  of 
entry.  After  the  vessel  has  been  reported  to  the  col- 
lector of  the  port,  and  her  duties  paid  or  secured  to  be 
paid,  and  the  owner  of  the  goods  desire  them  deliv- 
ered at  some  other  place  where  there  is  no  custom 
house,  that  privilege  is  granted,  and  the  place  where 
the  goods  are  finally  discharged  is  called  a port 
of  delivery. 

5.  Among  the  powers  which  the  Constitution  con- 
fers upon  Congress,  is  that  of  laying  duties  on  goods 
imported.  Congress  alone  has  this  power.  No  State 
can  exercise  it.  It  also  declares  that  all  duties  shall 
be  equal  in  all  the  States. 

Not  only  has  the  tariff  (which  means  the  rate  of  du- 
ties charged)  been  a source  of  much  debate  and  legis- 


214  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

lation,  but  also  the  mode  of  imposing  these  taxes.  Two 
modes  have  been  advocated.  Sometimes  one  and  some- 
times another  has  been  adopted  and  practiced.  The  sys- 
tem of  ad  valorem  duties  is  one,  and  that  of  specific  du- 
ties is  the  other.  Ad,  valorem  duties  are  laid  upon  the 
cost  of  the  article  in  the  country  whence  it  was  brought. 
Hence  when  goods  were  low,  the  duties  would  be  cor- 
respondingly low,  and  vice  versa  when  high.  But  this 
plan  has  been  subject  to  great  objections,  for  impor- 
ters have  been  often  known  to  have  false  invoices  made 
out,  wherein  their  goods  were  marked  much  below  their 
real  cost,  and  by  this  means  the  government  is  de- 
frauded and  honest  dealers  injured.  To  avoid  this, 
the  other  mode  has  been  resorted  to,  viz.: 

“ Specific  duties,’’  by  which  the  tax  is  laid  upon  the 
article  itself — that  is,  the  duty  is  so  much  per  pound, 
yard,  gallon,  &c.,  without  regard  to  what  was  the  price 
originally  paid  for  it. 

6.  There  are  a great  number  of  imported  articles, 
upon  which  there  is  no  duty.  These  are  called  free 
goods.  But  the  laws  are  so  often  changed  that  what  are 
free  goods  now  may  be  taxed  at  the  next  session  of 
Congress  ; and  goods  paying  duties  this  year  may  be 
put  on  the  free  list  next. 

DRAWBACKS. 

7.  When  the  duties  on  foreign  goods  have  been  paid, 
and  they  are  afterwards  exported,  the  duties  which 
have  been  paid  are  refunded  to  the  owner.  The  money 
thus  paid  back  is  called  a drawback.  All  imported 
goods  are  entitled  to  drawback  whenever  they  are  ta- 
ken out  of  the  United  States. 


DUTIES  AND  TARIFFS. 


215 


8.  In  this  connection,  we  see  no  impropriety  in  no- 
ticing another  thing,  though  of  an  exactly  opposite  char- 
acter to  duties ; and  that  is, 

BOUNTIES  ON  EXPORTED  GOODS. 

These  take  money  out  of,  instead  of  putting  it  in 
the  treasury,  yet  the  government  in  a few  cases  has  al- 
lowed bounties  upon  exported  articles.  Fish  taken  by 
American  vessels,  refined  sugar  and  distilled  spirits 
made  from  imported  sugar  and  molasses,  are  exam- 
ples. This  was  done  to  encourage  domestic  industry 
and  enterprise. 


216 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LII. 

Tonnage, 

In  the  last  chapter  we  treated  of  duties  and  tariffs, 
hut  only  as  they  related  to  imported  goods.  In  this 
we  will  speak  of  another  kind  of  duties  differing  very 
materially  from  the  first.  The  first  kind  is  imposed 
only  upon  foreign  productions,  but  the  latter  upon 
home-made  as  well  as  foreign ; and  this  is  the  duty 
which  the  government  lays  upon  the  tonnage  of  ships 
and  other  vessels. 

Tonnage  is  the  capacity  of  a ship  or  any  other  ves- 
sel for  carrying  weight,  which  is  always  reckoned  by 
the  ton  ; and  is  ascertained  by  measuring  the  length, 
breadth  and  depth  of  the  vessel.  This  has  been 
deemed  a proper  subject  of  taxation,  for  the  purpose  of 
adding  to  the  revenue  of  the  country. 

At  a very  early  period  (1790)  in  our  history  these 
duties  were  imposed,  both  on  our  own  and  on  foreign 
vessels,  though  heavier  duties  are  laid  on  foreign  than 
upon  American  vessels.  In  the  first  act  passed  on  this 
subject,  in  1790,  this  duty  on  our  own  was  only  six 
cents  per  ton,  while  that  on  foreign  bottoms  was  fifty 
cents. 

Congress  alone  has  the  power  to  impose  these  du- 
ties. Ho  State  can  do  it.  In  1862,  such  were  the 
wants  of  the  treasury,  that  the  tonnage  duties  both  on 
American  and  foreign  vessels  were  increased  ten  cents 
per  ton.  This  tax  is  collected  only  once  in  a year,  by 
the  collector  of  the  port  where  the  vessel  happens  to  be. 


REVENUE  CUTTERS. 


217 


CHAPTER  LHI. 

Revenue  Cutters. 

1.  Revenue  cutters  are  small  sized  vessels  belong- 
ing to  the  government,  and  are  used  for  the  purpose  of 
aiding:  revenue  officers  in  the  collection  of  duties  on 
imported  goods ; or,  in  other  words,  to  prevent  smug- 
gling. These  vessels  are  built  and  used  exclusively  for 
this  purpose,  and  are  not  reckoned  as  any  part  of  the 
navy,  though  officered  and  manned  much  in  the  same 
manner.  The  commissioned  officers  are  appointed  by 
the  President  and  Senate. 

The  duties  assigned  to  revenue  cutters  are,  to  sail 
along  the  coast  and  look  after  ships  and  other  vessels 
going  into  any  of  the  ports  of  the  United  States  ; to 
board  them  and  examine  their  papers,  that  is,  if  going 
into  an  American  port,  and  within  four  leagues  of  the 
coast ; to  examine  the  manifest  of  the  cargo  and  every 
part  of  the  vessel ; to  put  proper  fastenings  upon  the 
hatches  and  other  communications  with  the  hold ; and 
to  place  a man  or  men  on  board  who  must  remain 
with  her  until  her  arrival  into  port,  when  she  is  deliv- 
ered over  to  the  charge  of  the  proper  custom  house 
officer. 

2.  The  officers  of  revenue  cutters  are  deemed  offi- 
cers of  the  customs,  and  hence  are  subject  to  the  orders  of 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  and  the  collectors  and 
other  revenue  officers  at  the  ports  where  employed. 
But  if  so  directed  by  the  President,  in  an  emergency 
they  may  cooperate  with  the  navy ; and  in  such  cases 
if  the  officers  or  men  are  wounded  in  the  discharge  of 
their  duties,  their  names  may  be  placed  on  the  navy 


218  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

pension  list,  and  they  will  be  entitled  to  the  same  rate 
of  pension  as  other  officers  and  seamen  of  the  United 
States  navy. 

3.  Revenue  cutters  are  distinguished  from  other  ves- 
sels by  the  pennant  and  ensign  they  carry'  These 
have  such  marks  upon  them  as  the  President  shall  di- 
rect ; and  in  case  any  ship  or  other  vessel  liable  to 
seizure  shall  not  bring-to  upon  request  of  the  com- 
manding officer  of  the  cutter,  he  is  authorized  to  fire 
into  such  vessel,  after  exhibiting  his  pennant  and  en- 
sign, in  order  to  compel  her  to  obey  his  orders  and  al- 
low herself  to  be  boarded  and  examined.  This  he 
may  do  without  incurring  responsibility  for  life  or  pro- 
perty that  may  be  destroyed  by  the  act. 

4.  One  of  the  objects  designed  to  be  accomplished 
by  the  use  of  revenue  cutters,  and  the  duties  assigned 
to  them,  is  to  prevent  vessels  from  running  goods 
ashore  after  having  neared  the  coast,  and  thus  to  es- 
cape payment  of  the  duties.  This  could  be  done  in 
the  night  or  in  foggy  weather  without  detection  but 
for  the  vigilance  of  these  vessels,  which  are  well 
armed  and  well  manned.  Formerly  they  were  all  sail- 
ing vessels,  but  steamers  are  now  used  also. 

5.  The  commander  of  a revenue  cutter  must  report 
weekly  to  the  collector  of  the  port  where  he  is  sta- 
tioned, the  transactions  of  the  cutter,  with  the  names 
and  description  of  all  the  vessels  he  has  boarded ; spe- 
cifying whether  they  are  American  or  foreign  vessels, 
whether  loaded  or  in  ballast,  together  with  all  such  in- 
formation as  it  may  be  necessary  for  the  revenue  offi- 
cers of  the  port  to  possess. 


THE  MINT. 


219 


CHAPTER  LIV. 

The  Mint. 

1.  The  United  States  mint,  located  at  Philadelphia, 
is  one  of  the  most  important  establishments,  of  the 
government.  An  act  of  Congress,  passed  in  1792, 
was  the  first  step  towards  its  creation.  Its  design  was, 
and  its  principal  business  has  been,  to  coin  the  precious 
metals  into  money.  It  has  been  for  more  than  eighteen 
hundred  years  the  usage  of  civilized  governments  to 
coin  their  own  money.  Ours,  at  a very  early  period 
of  its  existence,  began  to  do  the  same  thing,  and  will 
probably  continue  to  do  it  as  long  as  it  shall  exist. 
Before  the  art  of  coining  was  known,  the  precious  me- 
tals were  used  as  a standard  of  value,  but  they  passed 
from  one  to  another  by  weight.  The  plan  of  cutting 
them  into  small  pieces,  and  then  stamping  their  value 
upon  them,  by  which  their  worth  could  be  known  as 
soon  as  seen,  was  an  improvement  upon  the  former 
mode.  This  process  is  denominated  coining.  It  has 
of  late  been  brought  so  near  perfection  that  our  pieces 
of  money  are  fine  specimens  of  art. 

2.  This  establishment,  like  all  others  belonging  to 
the  government,  is  under  the  direction  of  otficers 
chosen  for  that  purpose. 

They  are  a director,  a treasurer,  an  assayer,  a melter 
and  refiner,  a chief  coiner,  and  an  engraver. 

All  of  them  are  appointed  by  the  President  and  Sen- 
ate. The  director  appoints  assistants  and  clerks. 


220 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


All  must  give  bonds  for  the  faithful  performance  of 
their  respective  duties,  upon  which  they  enter  under 
oath.  The  duties  of  these  different  officers  may  almost 
he  known  by  the  names  they  bear.  The  director  is 
the  head  of  the  institution,  and  the  others  act  under 
his  general  direction,  each  having  his  appropriate  du- 
ties to  perform.  In  the  month  of  January  of  each  year 
the  director  must  make  a report  to  the  President  of  the 
operations  of  the  mint  and  its  branches  for  the  preced- 
ing year. 

3.  Any  person  may  take  gold  or  silver  bullion  or 
ores  to  the  mint  and  receive  it  back  in  coin,  for  a very 
trifling  expense.  Before  it  is  coined,  after  its  value 
has  been  determined  by  the  assayer,  the  director  will 
give  a certificate  for  it,  which  is  of  the  same  value  as 
the  bullion  deposited. 

4.  "We  have  stated  that  the  principal  business  at  the 
mint  is  the  conversion  of  the  precious  metals  into  coin 
or  money.  But  this  is  not  its  exclusive  business. 
Another  part  is  to  melt  and  assay  these  metals,  and  to 
run  them  into  ingots  or  bars  either  of  pure  or  standard 
gold  and  silver,  according  to  the  wish  of  its  owner.  In 
our  article  on  the  assay  office  at  the  city  of  New  York, 
we  have  explained  this  process  more  fully  than  we 
need  to  do  here. 

Until  1835  the  mint  at  Philadelphia  was  the  only 
establishment  in  the  United  States  for  coining  money. 
But  in  that  year  a law  was  passed  establishing  branch 
mints  at  New  Orleans,  in  Louisiana;  at  Charlotte,  in 
North  Carolina;  and  at  Dahlonega,  in  Georgia.  In 
1852,  another  branch  was  established  in  California;  in 


THE  MINT. 


221 


1862,  another  at  Denver,  in  Colorado  Territory;  and 
in  1863,  another  at  Carson  City,  in  Nevada  Territory, 
since  made  a State;  in  1864,  another  at  San  Francisco, 
in  California,  and  another  at  Dalles  City,  in  Oregon. 
Except  the  one  in  California,  but  little  has  ever  been 
done  at  these  branches.  Political  reasons  in  some 
cases  had  more  to  do  with  their  establishment  than 
any  necessity  for  them.  We  need  not  take  time  to 
name  these  officials  or  to  explain  their  operations. 
They  are  all  similar  to  the  principal  one  at  Philadel- 
phia; for  the-  laws  relating  to  that  are  made  to  apply 
to  these  branches. 

6.  The  Constitution  gives  Congress  the  exclusive 
right  to  coin  money,  and  prohibits  all  the  States  from 
doing  it.  This  Congress  does  by  the  laws  it  passes  in 
relation  to  the  subject,  and  the  various  officers  and 
workmen  employed  to  execute  the  work  are  only  the 
agents  of  Congress. 

The  various  coins  which  Congress  has  from  time  to 
time  ordered  to  be  made  are  of  the  following  names 
and  value : 


Gold.  Value. 
Eagle,  ' $10  00 

Half-Eagle,  5 00 
Quar.  Eag.,  2 50 
Doub.  Eag.,  20  00 
Three  Dols.,  3 00 
One  Dollar,  1 00 


Silver.  Value . 
Dollar,  $1  00 
Half-Dollar,  50 
Quar.  Dol.,  25 
Dime,  10 

Half  Dime,  5 
Three  ct.  piece,  3 


Copper . 

One  cent, 

Two  cents, 

Three  cents,  and 
formerly  1-2  c. 
But  these  are  now 
discontinued. 


7.  Our  coins  are  not  made  of  pure  gold  and  pure  sil- 
ver, but  of  standard  gold  and  silver;  that  is,  gold  or 
silver  alloyed  or  mixed  with  some  baser  or  less  valu- 
able metal.  By  the  law  of  1837,  standard  gold  and 
silver  were  declared  to  be  nine  hundred  parts  of  pure 


222 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S GOVERNMENT. 


metal,  and  one  hundred  parts  alloy — equal  to  one-tenth 
alloy.  Gold  coins  are  alloyed  with  silver  and  copper, 
equal  parts  of  each.  Silver  coins  are  alloyed  with  cop- 
per alone.  Gold  is  declared  to  be  worth  fifteen  times 
as  much  as  silver  by  weight. 

In  addition  to  our  own  coins,  Congress  has  from  time 
to  time  passed  laws  declaring  the  value  of  foreign  coins, 
and  making  them  a legal  tender.  But  these  laws  were 
all  repealed  by  the  act  of  1857,  and  it  was  made  the 
duty  of  the  director  of  the  mint  to  have  them  assayed, 
and  to  determine  their  weight,  fineness  and  value;  for 
they  are  still  used  by  banks  and  merchants,  and  pass 
at  the  value  determined  by  the  mint. 

The  mint,  up  to  1861,  had  coined  in  gold,  silver,  and 
copper  coin,  800,662,475  pieces,  worth  $799,923,362. 


ASSAY  OFFICE. 


223 


CHAPTER  LY. 

Assay  Office. 

1.  In  1853  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  was  au- 
thorized to  establish  an  office  in  the  city  of  New  York 
for  the  receipt,  melting,  refining  and  assaying  of  gold 
and  silver  bullion  and  foreign  coin,  and  for  casting  the 
same  into  bars,  ingots  or  disks.  The  assistant  trea- 
surer of  the  United  States  in  New  York,  is  treasurer 
of  said  assay  office,  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Trea- 
sury appoints  such  other  clerks,  assistants  and  work- 
men as  shall  be  necessary  for  the  management  of  its 
business. 

2.  Persons  having  gold  or  silver  bullion,  ores  or  for- 
eign coin,  may  deposit  them  in  this  office,  and  here  it 
will  be  refined  and  assayed  (at  no  more  cost  than  the 
actual  expenses  of  doing  the  work),  and  its  value  as- 
certained, and  the  owner  will  be  paid  therefor  in  coins 
of  the  same  value  and  metal  as  that  deposited.  It  is 
not  coined  in  this  office,  but  cast  into  bars,  ingots  or 
disks — either  of  pure  metal  or  of  standard  fineness,  as 
the  owner  may  prefer — the  true  weight  and  value  of 
which  are  stamped  thereon  ; and  the  owner  may  either 
take  them  in  payment  for  his  bullion  or  foreign  coin, 
or  it  will  be  coined  for  him  at  the  United  States  mint, 
if  he  wishes.  The  bars  spoken  of  are  often  kept  in 
that  form,  and  are  used  as  coin  among  banks,  brokers 
and  merchants,  who  receive  and  pay  large  amounts  of 

15 


224  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

the  precious  metals.  With  them  it  passes  as  coin,  for, 
as  stated,  its  exact  weight  and  value  are  stamped  upon  it. 

3.  This  establishment  was  located  at  New  York 
more  for  the  convenience  of  the  thousands  who  do 
business  there,  than  for  the  necessity  of  such  an  insti- 
tution ; for  at  the  mint  at  Philadelphia  there  is  a de- 
partment for  doing  the  same  work  as  is  done  here. 
But  at  New  York,  the  great  emporium  of  America, 
there  is  a larger  amount  of  foreign  coin  than  in  any 
other  place,  and  it  is  often  advantageous  to  its  owners 
to  have  it  converted  into  American  coin,  that  it  may 
he  used  with  greater  facility.  Although  many  foreign 
coins  do  circulate  in  this  country,  but  few  know  their 
value.  Consequently  they  do  not  pass  so  readily ; and 
for  this  reason  they  are  melted  and  run  into  bars  of 
known  value,  or  re-coined  into  American  money. 


NATIONAL  BANKS. 


225 


CHAPTER  LVI. 

National  Banks. 

1.  The  banking  system  established  by  an  act  oi 
Congress  in  1863,  has  brought  a great  number  of  banks 
into  existence,  and  upon  a plan  so  different  from  any 
heretofore  in  use,  that  it  seems  germane  to  our  subject 
to  notice  it. 

If  the  “ national  banks,”  for  so  they  are  called,  are 
not  institutions  of  the  government,  they  are  institu- 
tions which  exist  by  the  authority  of  the  government. 

It  legalizes  their  existence,  and  to  some  extent  con- 
trols their  actions.  By  the  act  referred  to,  any  num- 
ber of  persons  not  less  than  five  may  associate  them- 
selves together  for  the  purpose  of  banking,  by  compli- 
ance with  the  following  conditions : 

2.  First : They  must,  under  their  hands  and  seals, 
make  a certificate  which  shall  specify, 

1.  The  name  assumed  by  such  association. 

2.  The  place  where  its  business  is  to  be  conducted. 

3.  The  amount  of  its  capital  stock,  (which  cannot 
be  less  than  $50,000),  and  the  number  of  its  shares. 

4.  The  names  of  its  shareholders,  and  the  number 
of  shares  held  by  each. 

5.  The  time  when  such  association  shall  commence 
business. 

6.  A declaration  that  said  certificate  is  made  to  ena- 
ble such  persons  to  avail  themselves  of  the  advantages 
of  this  act. 


226  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

3.  This  certificate  must  be  properly  acknowledged 
before  some  competent  person,  and  must  be  sent  to  the 
comptroller  of  the  currency  in  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment, to  be  recorded  and  kept  by  him.  When  this, 
and  all  other  acts  which  the  law  requires,  has  been 
done  by  the  association,  the  comptroller  of  the  cur- 
rency gives  them  a certificate  under  his  hand  and  offi- 
cial seal,  to  that  effect,  and  that  they  are  authorized  to 
commence  business.  This  constitutes  the  association 
a corporation.  They  have  the  right  to  make  and  use  a 
common  seal,  and  have  all  the  rights,  and  are  liable  to 
all  the  responsibilities  of  ordinary  legalized  corpora- 
tions ; and  may  exist  not  to  exceed  twenty  years 
from  the  passage  of  this  act.  Every  shareholder  is 
made  personally  liable  for  the  debts  of  the  association 
or  bank,  to  the  amount  of  the  par  value  of  his  stock. 

4.  In  order  to  secure  the  holders  of  bills  issued  by 
these  banks,  they  must  deposit  with  the  Treasurer  of 
the  United  States,  United  States  bonds  bearing  inter- 
est to  an  amount  not  less  than  one-third  of  the  capital 
stock  paid  in.  These  bonds  are  safely  kept  by  the 
said  Treasurer.  The  comptroller  of  the  currency  then 
issues  to  the  bank  an  amount  of  bank  notes  equal  to 
the  amount  of  bonds  thus  deposited,  less  ten  per  cent. 
In  case  the  bank  should  fail  to  redeem  its  circulating 
bills,  its  bonds  are  sold,  and  with  the  proceeds  the 
comptroller  of  the  currency  redeems  them,  or  orders 
them  to  be  paid  at  the  United  States  Treasury.  The 
bonds  held  bj^  the  Treasurer  as  security  for  the  re- 
demption of  the  bills  issued  by  the  association,  must 
be  transferred  to  him  in  trust ; thus  giving  him  entire 


NATIONAL  BANKS. 


227 


control  of  them  in  case  it  becomes  necessary  to  sell 
them  in  order  to  redeem  the  bills  of  any  association 
which  may  have  failed  to  pay  them  on  demand. 

5. '  This  act  of  1863  has  brought  a great  number  of 
new  banks  into  existence.  It  allowed  banks  already 
existing  under  State  laws,  to  become  banking  associa- 
tions under  this  act.  Most  of  the  existing  State  banks 
have  done  so,  organizing  themselves  under  this  law. 
Hence  with  few  exceptions,  (which  will  probably  soon 
disappear),  we  have  a uniform  system  of  banking  all 
over  the  United  States.  The  bills  of  these  banks  pass 
in  any  part  of  the  country.  The  holders  of  them  are 
more  secure,  because  there  is  ample  security  for  their 
redemption  (in  case  the  bank  fails  to  pay)  deposited  in 
the  United  States  Treasury,  where  they  will  be  paid  on 
presentation. 

6.  The  bill-holder  is  also  better  protected  against 
counterfeits  than  he  was  under  the  old  system;  for  all 
the  bills  issued  by  these  associations  are  engraved  by 
the  government,  and  the  plates  and  dies  on  which  they 
are  printed  are  kept  by  the  comptroller  of  the  currency 
in  the  Treasury  Department.  The  engraving  is  done 
in  the  best  possible  manner,  and  it  is  exceedingly  dif- 
ficult to  counterfeit  them.  Besides  this,  they  all  have 
the  imprint  of  the  seal  of  the  Treasury  on  their  face, 
and  are  numbered  and  countersigned  by  the  treasurer 
and  register.  With  all  these  guards  and  precautions, 
we  have  the  best  paper  currency  ever  used  since  the 
establishment  of  the  government. 

7.  This  act  necessarily  threw  upon  the  Treasury  De- 
partment a great  increase  of  labor,  and  in  order  to  pro- 


228  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

vide  for  it,  a separate  bureau  was  created,  which  is  de- 
nominated the  bureau  of  currency;  the  chief  officer  of 
which  is  called  the  comptroller  of  currency.  He  acts 
under  the  general  direction  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury.  This  bureau  is  charged  with  the  execution 
of  this  and  all  other  laws  that  may  be  passsed  by  Con- 
gress respecting  the  national  currency.  The  comptrol- 
] er  of  the  currency  is  appointed  by  the  President  and  Sen- 
ate, has  a deputy,  receives  a salary  of  $5,000  per  year, 
holds  his  office  five  years,  has  an  official  seal,  gives 
bonds  to  the  amount  of  $100,000,  and  takes  and  sub- 
scribes the  oath  of  office  prescribed  by  the  Constitution 
and  the  laws.  His  duties  are  numerous  and  very  re- 
sponsible, he  having  hundreds  of  millions  under  his 
care. 

The  term  national  banks,  given  to  these  institu- 
tions, and  national  currency  to  the  bills  they  issue, 
wrere  given  from  the  fact  that  they  were  organized  by 
an  act  of  Congress,  and  that  the  security  for  the  re- 
demption of  their  bills  consists  exclusively  of  national 
bonds ; no  other  securities  will  be  taken. 


MILITARY  ACADEMY. 


229 


CHAPTER  LYH. 

Military  Academy. 

1.  The  Military  Academy,  located  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  Hudson  river,  at  West  Point,  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  about  50  miles  from  the  city  of  New 
York,  is  one  of  the  government  institutions.  It  had 
its  origin  in  an  act  of  Congress  passed  as  early  as  1802. 
Under  this  act  this  far-famed  military  school  was  com- 
menced, but  on  a scale,  in  every  respect,  very  much 
inferior  to  what  it  has  since  become. 

2.  Its  name  explains  its  character  and  objects.  It 
was  established  and  has  been  continued  at  a great  ex- 
pense, for  the  purpose  of  teaching  and  training  up 
young  men  in  the  science  and  art  of  war,  that  in  any 
emergency  the  country  might  have  a sufficient  number 
of  men,  educated  and  skilled  in  all  such  arts  and  sci- 
ences as  appertain  to  war.  Hence,  mathematics,  engi- 
neering, gunnery,  drawing,  natural  and  experimental 
philosophy  and  military  tactics,  are  among  the  prin- 
cipal branches  taught.  In  all  of  these,  able  professors 
give  instruction  to  the  cadets,  as  the  pupils  are  called. 
Chemistry,  geology,  and  the  French  language  are  also 
taught  at  this  institution.  The  instruction  is  thorough, 
the  discipline  excellent,  and  some  of  the  graduates  of 
this  celebrated  school  rank  high  among  the  scientific 
men  of  the  country. 

3.  Congress  controls  and  regulates  this  establish- 
ment, as  it  does  all  other  departments,  institutions,  and 


230  OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

works  belonging  to  the  government.  It  enacts  all 
laws  relating  to  its  officers,  professors,  and  cadets,  and 
to  the  management  of  the  institution. 

4.  By  a law  passed  in  1843,  the  number  of  cadets  to 
be  admitted  was  made  to  correspond  with  the  number 
of  Senators  and  Representatives  from  each  State.  Ev- 
ery State  and  Territory  is  entitled  to  send  as  many  ca- 
dets as  it  has  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress. This  gives  each  Territory,  however,  but  one; 
as  a Territory  has  no  Senators,  and  but  one  Represen- 
tative. By  the  same  law  the  District  of  Columbia  is 
allowed  one.  To  give  every  part  of  the  country  an 
equal  chance,  it  was  enacted  that  each  Congressional 
district  in  each  State  and  Territory  should  be  allowed 
to  send  one  cadet,  to  be  educated  at  "West  Point.  These 
are  generally  nominated  for  appointment  by  the  Con- 
gressmen from  their  respective  districts,  and  the  Presi- 
dent appoints.  The  cadet  must  be  an  actual  resident 
of  the  district  for  which  he  is  appointed. 

5.  In  addition  to  these,  it  is  provided  by  the  same 
act,  that  ten  more  cadets  may  be  appointed  at  large ; 
i.  e.,  without  regard  to  Congressional  districts.  These 
provisions  would  make  the  number  of  cadets  at  the 
present  time  (1871),  to  be  three  hundred  and  fifteen. 
In  order  to  be  admitted  as  a cadet,  the  candidate  must 
be  well  versed  in  reading,  writing  and  arithemetic ; 
must  not  be  under  14  nor  over  21  years  of  age  ; and 
must  sign  articles,  agreeing  to  serve  the  United  States 
eight  years.  After  he  has  finished  his  studies  and  has  , 
graduated,  he  is  considered  as  a candidate  for  a com- 
mission in  the  army,  according  to  the  duties  he  may  be 
competent  to  perform. 


MILITARY  ACADEMY. 


231 


6.  The  Military  Academy  may  be  considered  a 
branch  of  the  War  Department.  Men  who  have 
been  educated  there  have  rendered  the  country  signal 
service  in  times  of  war,  have  made  able  commanders,  and 
have  proved  themselves  thoroughly  skilled  in  military 
science.  Not  only  in  the  military  service  has  it  been 
a benefit  to  the  country,  but  in  the  civil  walks  of  life. 
Many  of  its  graduates  have  distinguished  themselves 
as  engineers,  astronomers,  and  in  other  scientific  pro- 
fessions and  useful  employments. 

7.  There  is  an  annual  examination  of  the  cadets,  and 
of  the  general  affairs  of  the  institution,  by  a committee 
appointed  by  the  President,  for  that  purpose. 

It  is  composed  of  Congressmen  and  military  officers. 
It  is  the  duty  of  these  examiners  to  attend  the  examin- 
ation, inspect  its  discipline,  and  course  of  instruction, 
look  after  its  fiscal  affairs,  and  all  other  matters  relat- 
ing to  the  Academy,  and  report  the  same  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War,  for  the  use  of  Congress. 


232 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LVm. 

Naval  Academy. 

1.  "We  will  place  our  notice  of  this  institution  next 
to  that  of  the  Military  Academy,  as  there  is  a strong 
analogy  between  the  two.  We  remarked  on  that,  that 
it  might  be  considered  a branch  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment. So  we  say  of  this,  it  may  be  considered  a branch 
of  the  Navy  Department.  Both  are  designed  to  edu- 
cate and  train  men  for  future  public  service,  in  differ- 
ent departments. 

2.  This  school  is  now  established  at  Annapolis,  in 
the  State  of  Maryland,  near  Washington.  Like  the 
Military  Academy,  it  has  its  superintendent  and  profes- 
sors. The  pupils  are  called  midshipmen.  They  are 
taught  navigation  and  such  other  branches  of  science 
as  are  necessary  to  make  them  good  seamen  and  naval 
officers.  They  are  selected  upon  nearly  the  same  plan 
a?  cadets.  Each  Congressional  District  in  every  State 
and  Territory,  is  entitled  to  send  two  students  to  be 
educated  at  the  Academy.  The  District  of  Columbia 
is  also  entitled  to  send  two.  Besides  which,  the  Presi- 
dent is  allowed  to  appoint  ten  additional  ones  at  large, 
and  three  more  from  the  boys  enlisted  in  the  navy. 

3.  After  their  graduating  examination,  if  they  pass, 
they  are  commissioned  as  ensigns  in  the  navy,  and  rank 
according  to  merit.  Before  admission,  they  are  exam- 
ined according  to  the  regulations  made  by  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  and  must  be  between  the  ages  of  fourteen 


WAVAL  ACADEMY.  233 

and  seventeen  years,  sound,  robust,  and  of  good  com 
stitution. 

4.  The  course  of  study  in  this,  as  well  as  in  the 
Military  Academy,  is  adapted  to  the  profession  which 
the  students  are  expected  to  follow,- — the  one  in  the 
navy,  the  other  in  the  army.  More  are  educated  at 
these  great  national  schools  than  the  government  needs 
in  time  of  peace.  Hence  it  is  that  many  of  the  gradu- 
ates are  engaged  in  civil  employment.  Thus  these  in- 
stitutions have  been  of  great  service  to  the  country, 
outside  of  the  army  and  navy,  for  they  have  added  to 
the  number  of  well  educated  and  scientific  men,  who 
may  be  useful  in  any  of  the  walks  of  life.  Their  gradu- 
ates elevate  the  standard  of  intelligence  in  the  com- 
munity, especially  when  they  engage  in  the  work  of 
instruction. 

Both  of  these  institutions  are  supported  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  government.  The  tuition  and  board  of 
cadets  in  one,  and  of  the  midshipmen  in  the  other, 
costs  them  nothing. 


234 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

Armories  and  Arsenals. 

As  early  as  1794,  Congress  enacted  that  three  or 
four  arsenals  and  magazines,  with  an  armory  attached 
to  each,  should  be  established  for  the  safe  keeping  ot 
military  stores.  An  arsenal  is  a place  where  arms  and 
military  stores  are  kept..  An  armory  is  a place  where 
arms  are  made  or  repaired.  The  armories  where  arms 
are  manufactured  are  at  Springfield,  in  Massachusetts, 
and  at  Harpers’  Ferry,  in  Virginia.  But  there  are 
many  others  where  they  are  repaired. 

In  1808,  the  President  was  authorized  to  purchase 
sites  and  to  erect  as  many  more  arsenals  and  manufac- 
tories of  arms  as  he  might  deem  expedient.  Each  of 
these  establishments  was  formerly  under  the  direction 
of  a superintendent;  but  they  are  now  placed  under 
the  direction  of  the  Ordnance  Department.  The  office 
of  superintendent  of  the  armories  at  Springfield  and 
Harpers’ Ferry,  was  also  abolished  in  1842;  and  its  du- 
ties have  since  been  performed  by  such  officers  of  the 
ordnance  corps  as  were  designated  by  the  President. 
In  each  armory  there  is  employed  a master  armorer, 
who  superintends  the  workmen.  "We  have  not  the 
means  of  knowing  what  number  of  these  establishments 
have  been  authorized  in  the  United  States,  but  in  ad- 
dition to  those  already  named  there  are  arsenals 
and  armories  at  Pittsburgh  and  Bridesburg,  in  Penn- 
sylvania; at  Washington  city;  at  Watervliet,  in  New 
York;  Watertown,  Mass.;  at  Columbus,  Ohio;  at  In- 
dianapolis, in  Indiana;  and  at  Rock  Island,  in  Illinois. 
They  are  parts  of  the  military  establishment  of  the 
country,  and  belong  to  the  War  Department. 


ARMY  AND  NAVY* 


235 


CHAPTER  LX. 

The  Army  and  Navy. 

1.  A detailed  and  minute  description  of  the  various 
departments,  officials,  works  and  modes  of  operation 
in  these  two  great  government  establishments,  would 
require  a larger  volume  than  the  present  to  contain  it. 
"We  must,  therefore,  in  a work  of  this  kind,  be  content 
to  speak  of  them  in  the  most  general  terms.  Indeed 
it  would  be  quite  uninteresting  to  the  general  reader 
to  peruse  a detailed  account  of  the  division  of  the 
army  into  corps,  brigades,  regiments  and  companies, 
with  all  the  grades  of  officers  commanding  them ; or 
of  all  the  appendages  to  an  army,  such  as  the  commis- 
sary department,  the  quartermaster’s  department,  and 
many  other  important  attachments  to  a regular  army. 
And  what  we  say  of  the  army  would  hold  true  of  the 
navy. 

2.  We  will  then  only  say  that  the  army  and  navy 
are  the  two  great  arms  of  our  government,  as  they  are 
of  all  others.  They  are  the  means  of  defense  against 
attacks  or  invasions  from  other  powers ; as  well  as  of 
offense,  when  circumstances  require  us  to  invade  for- 
eign countries,  or  to  enforce  our  rights  upon  the  high 
seas,  though  this  is  especially  the  duty  of  the  navy, 
which  has  rights  all  over  the  seas  equal  with  those  of 
any  other  nation.  But  to  resist  foreign  aggression,  or 
to  defend  our  rights  on  the  seas,  is  by  no  means  the 
only  reason  for  maintaining  an  army  and  a navy.  Ex- 
perience has  shown  that  such  is  the  depravity,  the  law- 


236  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

lessness,  and  the  wickedness  of  a part  of  mankind 
that  nothing  but  compulsion  will  keep  them  in  order ; 
nothing  but  force  will  keep  them  from  the  violation  of 
the  best  of  laws.  This  reckless  and  vicious  class  of 
persons  are  so  numerous  that  laws  could  never  be  exe- 
cuted, nor  order  preserved,  if  no  military  or  naval 
power  stood  behind  the  civil  power  to  enforce  the  laws 
when  they  are  resisted  by  any  considerable  body  of 
persons.  But  for  the  known  fact  that  the  military 
power  stands  ready  at  the  call  of  the  executive  au- 
thority of  the  government,  resistance  to  every  law 
which  was  distasteful  to  the  most  depraved  and  vicious, 
would  be  made.  Thus  order  at  home  almost  as  much 
requires  the  military  power,  as  our  defense  against  the 
wrongs  or  invasions  of  foreigners. 

3.  The  navy  cannot  act  in  all  emergencies  as  the 
army  can,  because  it  is  necessarily  restricted  in  its  ac- 
tions. It  can  only  act  on  the  seas  or  upon  places  ac- 
cessible to  it  by  water ; whereas  the  army  can  operate 
any  where  upon  land.  It  never  has  been  the  policy  or 
the  practice  of  the  United  States  to  keep  a large  stand- 
ing army,  for  it  has  been  thought  inconsistent  with  a 
Republican  government ; first,  because  it  seemed  to 
imply  a want  of  confidence  in  the  intelligence  and  pa- 
triotism of  the  people,  the  majority  of  whom  are 
deemed  law-abiding,  patriotic,  and  willing  without 
compulsion  to  support  the  authority  of  the  civil  power 
of  the  government.  And  another  reason  is  that  a 
large  • army  is  a very  expensive  thing.  Indeed  the 
army  arid  the  navy  are  by  far  the  two  most  expensive 
departments  of  the  government.  Economy,  therefore, 


JAMES  BUCHANAN. 

FIFTEENTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Tin  ' „;4Y 
l);  ?H£ 

WlVfeHirfl!  Bf  ItBUMS 


ARMY  AND  NAVY. 


237 


is  another  reason  why  our  standing  army  has  always 
been  small  in  times  of  peace.  In  this  connection  we 
will  notice  another  fact  which  renders  it  unnecessary 
for  our  government  to  maintain  a large  army  at  any 
other  time  than  when  we  are  at  war,  and  that  is  our 
militia  system,  which  was  established  immediately 
after  the  organization  of  the  government.  By  a law 
of  Congress,  it  was  enacted  that  every  sound  and 
healthy  man,  with  a few  exceptions  in  special  cases, 
between  the  ages  of  18  and  45,  should  be  enrolled  and 
equipped  for  military  duty.  Then,  by  the  laws  of  the 
States,  they  are  required  on  certain  days  in  each  year 
to  meet  in  companies,  regiments  or  brigades,  for  drill 
and  practice  in  military  exercises. 

4.  By  these  means  military  organizations  are  kept 
up  in  every  part  of  the  country,  together  with  some 
knowledge  of  the  military  art.  These,  in  time  of  war 
or  domestic  insurrection,  may  be  called  out  with  but  a 
few  days’  notice ; and  a large  army  of  citizen  soldiers 
can  be  raised  in  a very  short  time.  With  such  facili- 
ties for  raising  men,  it  is  unnecessary  to  keep  a stand- 
ing army  of  much  magnitude.  A few  thousand  men 
to  guard  our  fortifications  and  military  posts  are  suffi- 
cient. 

The  late  civil  war  between  the  South  and  the  North 
gave  ample  evidence  of  this ; for  when  it  became  ne- 
cessary to  raise  a million  of  men,  it  was  done  in  a short 
time,  and  after  a little  practice  they  became  good  sol- 
diers. Until  the  recent  civil  war,  the  navy  of  the 
United  States  was,  in  comparison  with  that  of  several 
other  nations,  small  and  weak.  But  during  the  war, 


238 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


the  necessity  of  greater  force  in  this  arm  of  our  govern- 
ment, very  soon  brought  into  existence  the  most  pow- 
erful navy  in  the  world ; and  to-day  our  navy  ranks  as 
one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  very  best  in  the  world;  not- 
withstanding that  it  has  been  greatly  diminished  since 
peace  was  restored. 

5.  The  necessities  of  the  case  called  for  many  more 
vessels  than  the  government  had,  and  a large  number 
were  purchased  which  had  been  built  and  used  for 
commercial  purposes.  Besides  these  a great  number 
were  built,  and  many  English  vessels  which  had  run 
the  blockade,  or  attempted  to  do  so,  were  taken  as 
prizes,  and  immediately  placed  in  our  navy.  Hence 
perhaps  no  navy  upon  earth  ever  grew  from  small- 
ness to  greatness,  and  from  weakness  to  power  so  rap- 
idly as  did  the  American  navy  from  1861  to  1865,  or 
during  the  continuance  of  the  war. 

Hot  only  was  the  number  of  ships,  men  and  guns 
greatly  increased,  but  the  power  and  efficiency  of  our 
guns  were  augmented  beyond  anything  known  before; 
as  was  also  the  power  of  our  ships  of  war  for  offense  or 
defense.  When  we  see  cannon  which  will  send  balls 
five  miles,  and  do  terrible  execution,  and  iron-clad 
ships  so  constructed  as  to  be  as  impervious  to  cannon 
balls  as  a rock  is  to  small  shot,  we  may  place  our  navy 
on  an  equality,  if  not  in  advance  of  any  other  which 
can  be  found  on  earth.  In  this  respect  we  stand  on  a 
proud  eminence  in  contrast  with  any  other  nation. 

6.  We  have  said  already  that  since  the  restoration 
of  peace  among  ourselves,  the  force  of  the  navy  had 
been  greatly  reduced  and  brought  down  to  a peace 


ARMY  AND  NAVY. 


239 


standard.  Yet  it  is  still  of  sufficient  power  to  answer 
any  emergency  that  is  likely  to  occur.  From  a late 
report  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  we  learn  that  the 
present  naval  power  of  the  country  consists  of  278  ves- 
sels of  all  descriptions;  carrying  2,351  guns,  and  about 
13,600  seamen,  which  in  case  of  war  could  easily  be 
doubled. 

7.  We  have  in  another  place  spoken  of  the  naval 
academy,  and  said  that  its  object  was  to  educate  young 
men  for  the  naval  service.  The  government  has  also 
appropriated  ships,  and  established  schools  on  board  of 
them,  for  the  instruction  of  boys  in  navigation  and  na- 
val warfare.  These  are  called  apprentices;  and  for 
good  conduct  and  proficiency  in  their  studies,  they  are 
promoted  to  the  naval  academy,  and  placed  in  the  line 
of  promotion.  Thus  the  government  is  training  up  a 
class  of  young  men  for  the  navy  who  will  not  only  be 
well  educated,  but  well  drilled  in  all  the  arts  and 
sciences  which  pertain  to  the  naval  service.  “In  time 
of  peace  prepare  for  war,”  isa  proverb  on  which  the  gov- 
ernment is  now  acting. 

8.  For  the  construction  of  our  vessels  of  war  and  for 
their  equipment  and  repairs,  several  navy  yards  have 
been  established  along  the  coast  and  on  some  of  the 
navigable  rivers.  Here  the  ships  are  built,  armed, 
equipped,  manned  and  fitted  out  for  their  destination. 
The  principal  navy  yards  are  at  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
Brooklyn  N.  Y.,  Norfolk,  Va.,  and  Pensacola,  Fla. 

9.  Not  half  of  the  vessels  belonging  to  the  navy  are, 
however,  now  (in  time  of  peace)  in  commission,  that  is, 
in  active  service.  The  rest  are  either  laid  up,  or  in 

process  of  repair.  Most  of  those  in  commission  are 

16 


240 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


employed  in  what  is  called  squadron  service.  The 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  in  a late  report  enumer- 
ates seven  of  these  squadrons ; viz.:  the  Euro- 
pean, the  Asiatic,  the  N orth  Atlantic,  the  South  Atlantic, 
the  North  Pacific,  the  South  Pacific  and  the  Gulf 
squadrons.  The  names  given  to  these  squadrons  indicate 
their  whereabouts,  and  their  cruising  grounds.  These 
squadrons  consist  of  six,  eight,  ten,  twelve  or  fifteen 
vessels,  as  the  work  to  be  done  may  require.  It  is 
their  duty  to  visit  the  sea  ports  of  the  various  countries 
along  the  coasts  of  which  they  cruise,  in  order  to  pro- 
tect our  merchantmen  against  pirates  or  enemies  of 
any  description,  which  may  molest  them  or  interfere 
with  their  rights  and  privileges  ; and  also  to  look  af- 
ter the  interests  and  dignity  of  the  United  States. 

10.  These  squadrons  are  under  command  of  a high 
naval  officer  of  the  rank  of  commodore  or  rear  admi- 
ral, whose  ship  is  called  the  flag  ship  of  the  squadron. 
Many  of  our  naval  officers  have  distinguished  them- 
selves for  bravery,  skill,  and  patriotic  devotion  to  their 
country,  and  have  occupied  the  highest  position  of  hon- 
or, and  the  most  exalted  places  in  the  esteem  and  affec- 
tion of  their  countrymen. 

In  1862,  Congress  enacted  that  there  should  be  nine 
grades  of  officers  in  the  navy,  and  that  their  corres- 
ponding rank  with  military  officers  should  be  as  follows : 

1.  Rear-Admiral,  with  Major-General. 

2.  Commodores,  “ Brigadier-Generals. 


Midshipmen  have  no  corresponding  rank  in  the 
army. 


7.  Masters, 

8.  Ensigns, 


4.  Commanders, 

5.  Lieut.-Commanders, 

6.  Lieutenants,  . 


3.  Captains, 


Colonels. 

Lieutenant-Colonels. 

Majors. 

Captains. 

First  Lieutenants. 
Second  Lieutenants.' 


ARTICLES  OF  WAR. 


241 


CHAPTER  LXI. 

Articles  of  War. 

1.  As  a sequel,  or  as  a kind  of  appendix  to  what  has 
been  said  about  the  army,  it  seems  appropriate  to  make 
some  remarks  upon  the  u articles  of  war,”  as  they 
are  commonly  called.  These  are  not,  as  some  might 
suppose  them  to  be,  rules  made  by  the  highest  officer 
in  command,  for  the  government  of  the  officers  and 
soldiers  of  inferior  rank ; but  they  are  laws  of  Con- 
gress, acts  of  that  body.  Hence  they  come  from  the 
highest  authority  in  the  land,  and  are  as  binding  upon 
the  highest  in  command  as  upon  the  humblest  pri- 
vate. 

2.  They  relate,  of  course,  exclusively  to  the  army, 
and  consist  of  one  hundred  and  one  articles,  each  con- 
taining some  specific  rule  or  direction  for  the  govern- 
ment of  either  officers,  soldiers,  or  attaches  of  the 
army.  They  form  a complete  code  of  laws  for  them 
all  while  in  actual  service.  The  first  one  of  these  re- 
quires every  officer  in  the  army  to  subscribe  these  rules 
and  regulations,  before  he  enters  upon  his  duties  ; thus 
signifying  his  approval  of  them,  and  tacitly  promising 
to  regulate  his  conduct  by  them. 

3.  But  to  recite  the  provisions  of  each  article  would 
require  more  space  than  we  can  appropriate  to  this 
theme.  Let  it  suffice,  then,  to  enumerate  some  of  the 
principal  subjects  embraced  in  these  articles,  showing 
what  matters  relating  to  the  army  Congress  has  seen 
fit  to  regulate  by  legislation.  These  are — 


242  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

1st.  Directions  to  both  officers  and  men  to  attend 
public  worship,  accompanied  by  penalties  prescribed 
for  any  improper  behavior  on  such  occasions. 

4.  They  prohibit  the  use  of  profane  oaths  and  exe- 
crations, of  contemptuous  and  disrespectful  language 
against  their  superiors,  the  raising  of  a mutiny  among 
the  troops;  and  the  striking,  raising  any  weapon,  or 
offering  any  violence  to  a superior  officer.  They  pre- 
scribe the  oath  or  affirmation  which  every  officer  and 
private  must  take  upon  his  entrance  into  the  army, 
and  the  penalties  for  the  violation  of  any  of  the  arti- 
cles of  war,  or  the  omission  of  any  duties  incumbent 
upon  them.  They  contain  rules  for  the  enlistment, 
dismissal,  and  discharging  of  men,  and  for  granting 
them  furloughs  and  leave  of  absence,  with  penalties 
for  desertion,  or  absence  without  leave. 

5.  They  prohibit  duelling  or  challenging  to  a duel; 
make  rules  for  sutlers  in  the  army;  prohibit  embez- 
zlement of  public  property,  or  public  money ; sleeping 
while  on  guard;  drunkenness;  absence  from  parade; 
raising  false  alarms ; cowardice ; disclosing  watchwords ; 
aiding  or  corresponding  with  the  enemy.  They  pre- 
scribe the  rank  and  grade  of  officers;  direct  how 
courts  martial  shall  be  constituted ; how  proceedings 
shall  be  conducted  in  them ; and  how  deceased  offi- 
cers’ and  soldiers’  money,  effects  and  arms,  shall  be 
disposed  of. 

6.  These  are  the  most  important  among  the  provi- 
sions of  the  articles  of  war,  and,  with  others  of  less 
note  must  be  read  and  published  once  in  every  six 
months  to  every  regiment  or  troop  in  the  service.  In 


ARTICLES  OF  WAR. 


243 


many  instances  they  prescribe  specifically  what  punish- 
ment shall  be  inflicted  for  any  violation  of  these  rules 
and  regulations;  but  in  other  cases  they  leave  the 
mode  and  amount  of  punishment  to  the  discretion  of 
the  court  martial  before  which  the  accused  is  tried. 
Penalties  for  military  offences  rise  in  severity,  corres- 
ponding with  the  turpitude  of  the  crime,  from  a small 
fine  or  imprisonment,  up  to  death.  The  sentence  of 
any  court  martial  may,  however,  always  be  modified, 
commuted,  or  set  aside  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  who  is,  as  is  well  known,  commander-in-chief 
both  of  the  army  and  navy.  A general  court  martial 
is  composed  of  commissioned  officers,  not  less  than 
five,  nor  more  than  thirteen  in  number. 


244 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT, 


CHAPTER  LXII. 

Chaplains. 

1.  If  chaplains  are  not  officers  of  the  government, 
they  are  at  least  employees  of  it,  for  they  are  appointed 
by  its  authority,  and  paid  from  its  treasury.  Those  in 
the  army  receive  the  same  pay  and  emoluments  as  a 
major  of  infantry;  or  this  was  the  compensation  al- 
lowed by  act  of  Congress  in  1812.  But  by  an  act  of 
1862,  it  was  fixed  at  $100  per  month,  and  two  rations 
per  day,  for  those  in  the  army  or  hospitals.  By  the 
act  of  1812,  one  chaplain  was  allowed  to  every  brigade; 
but  by  an  act  of  1861,  (during  the  civil  war,)  one  for 
every  regiment  was  allowed. 

Navy  chaplains,  in  1885,  received  $1,200  per  year. 
But  in  1860  this  was  raised  to  a lieutenant’s  pay ; and 
this  in  1862  was  $1,800  per  annum. 

Chaplains  in  Congress  receive  $750  per  annum. 

2.  The  United  States  also  employ  a chaplain  in  the 
military  academy  at  West  Point. 

Erom  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  in  time  of 
war,  with  one  chaplain  for  every  regiment,  and  one 
for  every  ship  of  war,  and  others  in  hospitals  and  mili- 
tary posts,  quite  a large  number  of  clergymen  are  em- 
ployed by  the  government. 

This  provision  for  the  religious  instruction  of  those 
who  cannot,  from  their  peculiar  position,  attend  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel,  or  other  religious  services,  is 
certainly  an  indication  that  our  government  respects 


CHAPLAINS. 


245 


religion,  and  looks  after  the  spiritual  as  well  as  the 
temporal  interests  of  its  army  and  navy. 

3.  In  the  appointment  of  chaplains,  the  government 
pursues  a liberal  course.  No  particular  preference  is 
given  to  any  denomination,  but  they  are  appointed 
from  almost  every  religious  sect,  and  allowed  to  con- 
duct religious  services  after  the  forms  of  the  church 
to  which  they  respectively  belong. 

Every  body  knows  what  the  duties  of  a chaplain  are. 
So  we  need  not  explain  them  here,  and  will  only  add 
that  a faithful  chaplain  in  the  army  in  time  of  war  has 
much  to  do  besides  preaching  and  holding  regular 
services.  The  wounded,  the  sick,  and  the  dying, 
should  be  the  particular  objects  of  his  attention.  He 
should  not  only  piinister  religious  instruction  and  con- 
solation to  them,  but  look  after  their  physical  comforts. 
Many  of  these  clergymen,  during  the  late  most  unfor- 
tunate civil  war,  distinguished  themselves  by  their  ex- 
ertions to  promote  the  bodily  comforts  of  those  unfor- 
tunate men,  as  well  as  to  give  them  religious  instruction, 
not  refusing  to  nurse  the  sick  and  wounded  whenever 
they  could  relieve  their  pains  or  mitigate  their  sufferings. 


246 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXTTT. 

The  Naval  Observatory. 

1.  This  institution  is  located  in  Washington,  and 
was  established  by  act  of  Congress  in  1842,  and  put 
into  operation  in  1844.  Its  name  indicates  the  particu- 
lar object  or  purpose  of  its  establishment.  The 
“ naval  observatory  ” suggests  the  idea  that  it  has  some 
connexion  with  the  navy,  and  so  it  has  ; for  the  imme- 
diate object  in  founding  it  was  to  determine  such  as- 
tronomical problems  as  would  be  of  great  service  to 
the  navy.  It  is  well  known  that  astronomy  lies  at  the 
foundation  of  nautical  science,  and  that  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  former,  but  little  skill  in  the  latter 
could  ever  be  acquired. 

2.  The  observatory  was  built  and  furnished  with  va- 
rious astronomical  and  philosophical  instruments,  and 
a corps  of  professors  were  appointed  to  watch  the 
movements  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  and  to  make  such 
observations  and  experiments  as  would  enable  them  to 
determine  many  unsettled  questions  which  relate  to 
the  science  of  navigation  ; and  incidentally  to  another 
great  government  work,  having  especial  reference  to 
the  same  subject;  that  is,  the  coast  survey. 

The  coast  survey  has  already  been  of  great  service 
to  the  interests  of  navigation — whether  national  or 
commercial  vessels  are  regarded — and,  when  finished, 
much  greater  benefits  are  to  be  expected.  When  a 
sufficient  number  of  observations  and  experiments 


NAVAL  OBSERVATORY. 


247 


shall  have  been  made  at  the  naval  observatory,  and 
published  to  the  world,  much  valuable  information 
will  be  added  to  what  is  already  known.  And  indeed 
it  would  be  disreputable  to  a nation  having  so  large  a 
navy  and  such  a vast  number  of  merchant  ships  upon 
the  ocean,  to  do  nothing  for  or  add  nothing  to  the  sci- 
ence of  navigation.  It  would  be  an  unwise  policy  if 
economy  only  were  studied,  and  we  would  justly  de- 
serve the  reproach  of  being  penurious,  short-sighted, 
and  miserably  wanting  in  disposition  to  promote  the 
general  good  of  the  world. 

3.  During  the  first  nine  years  after  the  government 
of  the  United  States  went  into  operation,  we  had  no 
Navy  Department.  The  administration  of  the  affairs 
of  the  very  small  navy  which  we  then  had,  was  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary  of  War;  and  after  a 
Navy  Department  was  established,  but  little  was  done 
by  the  government  to  improve  nautical  science  until 
the  naval  observatory  was  built;  since  that,  much  at- 
tention has  been  given  to  this  important  subject,  audit  is 
expected  that  corresponding  results  will  follow. 

4.  This  institution  owes  more  to  that  enlightened 
and  truly  patriotic  President,  John  Q.  Adams,  than  to 
any  other  man.  He  recommended  it  as  far  back  as 
18^3,  and  again  in  his  first  message  to  Congress.  But 
political  opposition  to  the  man  prevented  his  recom- 
mendations from  being  acted  upon  till  nearly  20  years 
after  they  were  made.  This  opposition  was  finally 
overcome,  and  we,  and  posterity  after  us,  will  reap 
the  fruits  of  Mr.  Adams’  suggestions  and  labors  to  pro- 


248  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

mote  the  cultivation  of  that  science  which  is  at  once  a 
benefit  and  an  honor  to  our  country. 

5.  The  professors  are  assiduous  in  their  labors,  and 
publish  the  results  of  their  observations  and  the  facts 
they  have  determined.  These  are  not  only  of  use  to 
our  own  seamen,  but  to  those  of  all  nations  who  are 
doing  business  on  the  great  deep.  Here  the  charts 
made  by  the  coast  survey  are  deposited,  and  from 
hence  all  our  national  vessels  are  furnished  with  them, 
and  with  all  the  nautical  instruments  they  require. 

The  charts,  instruments  and  books  relating  to  as- 
tronomy and  navigation,  found  here,  make  it  the  head 
quarters  and  depot  of  nautical  science  in  the  United 
States. 


COAST  SURVEY. 


249 


CHAPTER  LXIV. 

Coast  Survey. 

1.  The  coast  survey,  the  naval  observatory  and  light 
houses  are  all  of  a similar  character — government 
works  in  their  purposes,  and  in  their  utility.  The  plan 
of  making  a survey  of  the  whole  coast,  and  of  keep- 
ing it  lighted,  is  one  founded  in  a wise  and  generous 
policy.  It  aids  commerce  and  encourages  navigation, 
by  making  known  the  hidden  dangers  of  the  sea,  and 
by  giving  directions  how  to  avoid  them. 

2.  This  government  undertaking  has  not  been  as 
vigorously  prosecuted  as  some  other  enterprises  con- 
ducted by  it.  As  early  as  1807,  Congress  passed  an 
act  authorizing  the  President  to  have  this  work  done. 
Much  of  it  has  been  done,  yet  it  is  not  finished  at  this 
day.  Our  acquisition  of  Florida,  Texas  and  California 
has  greatly  extended  our  sea  coast  since  the  work  was 
commenced,  and  its  accomplishment  has  cost  more 
time  and  labor  than  was  anticipated  at  the  beginning, 
yet  we  think  it  ought  to  have  been  completed  in  much 
less  than  60  years. 

3.  This  work,  like  that  relating  to  light  houses,  is 
under  the  management  of  a board,  consisting  of  a su- 
perintendent, two  principal  assistants,  two  naval  offi- 
cers and  four  officers  of  the  army.  These  nine  consti- 
tute the  board.  Then  there  are  as  many  officers  of  the 
army  and  navy  employed  in  the  execution  of  the  work 
as  are  deemed  necessary.  And  the  public  vessels,  by 
direction  of  the  President,  may  be  used  in  order  to  fa- 


250  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

cilitate  the  work,  for  much  of  it  must  be  done  at  sea. 
The  survey  extends  20  leagues  from  the  shore.  The 
surveyors  must  make  accurate  charts  (which  I will  call 
sea  maps),  of  the  whole  coast,  in  which  are  laid  down 
all  the  islands,  shoals,  roads  or  anchorage  grounds 
within  twenty  leagues  of  any  part  of  the  shore  of  the 
United  States.  The  courses  or  distances  between  the 
principal  capes  or  headlands  must  be  laid  down,  to- 
gether with  the  soundings  (depth  of  water)  and  every 
thing  else  necessary  to  make  a complete  and  accurate 
chart  of  every  part  of  our  coasts. 

4.  An  annual  report  of  this  work  must  be  made  to 
Congress  in  December  of  each  year,  accompanied  with 
charts,  showing  the  progress  of  the  work,  the  number 
of  persons  employed,  the  expenses  incurred,  the  amount 
of  work  finished,  and  what  is  unfinished.  These  re- 
ports and  charts  are  carefully  preserved,  and  copies  of 
them  may  be  had  at  "Washington  for  the  use  of  our 
naval  and  merchant  ships,  to  which  they  are  of  great 
service,  as  guides  whenever  they  are  on  or  near  the 
coast.  This  work,  in  its  utility,  is  not  confined  to  our- 
selves; but  the  important  information  obtained  by  it 
is  of  great  use  to  the  navigators  of  all  nations  who 
come  into  our  ports  or  cruise  on  our  coasts.  They  de- 
rive the  same  benefits  from  this  work  that  we  derive 
from  theirs  of  the  same  kind.  It  is  creditable  to  any 
nation  to  do  such  things  as  are  beneficial  to  the  world, 
such  acts  as  contribute  to  the  welfare  of  humanity. 
Shipwrecks  belong  to  the  list  of  terrible  calamities 
which  often  befall  those  “who  go  down  to  the  sea  in 
ships,  that  do  business  in  great  waters.”  Whoever 
diminishes  these  is  a public  benefactor. 


LIGHT  HOUSES. 


251 


CHAPTER  LXV. 

Light  Houses,  Buoys  and  Beacons. 

1.  These  are  all  government  establishments,  and  we 
must  therefore  notice  them.  They  are  built,  lighted, 
repaired,  and  taken  care  of,  wholly  by  the  government. 
Every  body  knows  the  object  for  which  they  are  con- 
structed. Guided  by  them,  the  mariner  may  approach 
the  coast  in  the  night  with  safety;  while  without  them 
many  noble  ships  would  be  wrecked,  which  now  safely 
arrive  in  port.  Humanity  and  interest  both  dictate 
their  construction  near  the  entrance  to  every  sea  port; 
and  at  the  most  dangerous  and  prominent  points  all 
along  the  sea  coast.  This  our  government  has  wisely 
done,  not  only  on  the  sea  coasts,  which  stretch  for 
thousands  of  miles  along  our  borders,  but  also  along 
the  shores  of  our  navigable  lakes  and  rivers. 

2.  Keepers  are  appointed  by  the  government  to  keep 
them  in  repair,  and  to  see  that  they  are  properly  lighted 
every  night.  We  have  no  means  of  knowing  the  num- 
ber of  these  useful  establishments,  but  there  must  be 
several  hundred  of  them ; for  we  have  more  sea  coast 
than  any  other  nation  upon  the  globe,  with  a still 
greater  length  of  lake  and  river  shore.  They  are  loca- 
ted at  prominent  points,  and  at  dangerous  places,  all 
along  the  extensive  lines  of  coast  and  shores. 

3.  All  this  work,  like  everything  else  done  by  the 
government,  must  be  done  according  to  law.  To  the 
end  that  light  houses  should  be  constructed  and  kept 
in  repair,  and  that  competent  men  might  have  the 


252 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


whole  matter  in  charge,  a law  of  1852  authorized  the 
President  to  appoint  two  officers  of  the  navy  of  high 
rank,  one  officer  of  the  corps  of  engineers  of  the  army, 
one  officer  of  the  topographical  engineers,  and  two  civi- 
lians of  high  scientific  attainments,  to  form  a light 
house  board  for  the  United  States.  This  board  is  at- 
tached to  the  Treasury  Department,  and  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  superintends  its  operations.  The 
board  has  in  charge  the  building,  illumination,  and  in- 
spection of  light  houses,  light  vessels,  buoys,  beacons, 
sea  marks  and  their  appendages. 

4.  The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  is  president  of  the 
board,  and  may  convene  them  whenever  he  deems  it 
necessary. 

The  law  makes  it  the  duty  of  the  board  to  divide 
the  whole  of  the  sea,  gulf,  and  lake  coasts,  into  light- 
house districts;  not  exceeding  12  in  number.  An  offi- 
cer of  the  army  or  navy  is  assigned  to  each  district,  as 
a light-house  inspector. 

We  have  not  in  detail  enumerated  all  the  duties  de- 
volving on  this  board,  and  therefore  say  in  general 
terms  that  they  have  the  control  of  everything  relating 
to  light  houses,  light  ships,  buoys,  beacons,  or  other 
means  of  directing  vessels  in  and  out  of  port,  or  of 
guiding  them  while  sailing  along  the  coast  in  the 
night. 

5.  As  foreign  vessels  receive  the  same  benefits  from 
our  light  houses  as  our  own,  there  is  nothing  unfair  or 
illiberal  in  requiring  them  to  contribute  something  to- 
wards the  expense  of  maintaining  them.  For  this  pur- 
pose Congress  has  imposed  a tax,  or  laid  a duty  of  50 


LIGHT  HOUSES. 


253 


cents  per  ton  on  all  foreign  vessels  entering  any  ports 
of  the  United  States.  This  is  called  “ light  money,” 
and  needs  no  explanation.  It  is  collected  in  the  same 
way  as  tonnage  duties  are,  i.  e.  by  the  collector  of  the 
port  where  the  ship  arrives.  Light  money  is  not  re- 
quired of  vessels  owned  by  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
provided  that  they  are  regularly  registered  as  the  law 
directs,  or  have  a sea  letter. 

7.  A sea  letter  is  a document  or  certificate,  given  by 
the  collector  of  a port,  to  the  captain  of  an  American 
vessel,  certifying  that  she  belongs  to  a citizen  or  citi- 
zens of  the  United  States.  Armed  with  this,  the  cap- 
tain can  prove  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  anywhere 
in  the  world,  the  ownership  and  nationality  of  his  ves- 
sel. This  is  a protection  to  her  and  her  cargo,  es- 
pecially in  times  of  war.  It  is  one  of  a ship’s  papers. 


254 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXVI. 

The  Smithsonian  Institution. 

1.  This  institution,  though  differing  materially  from 
almost  every  other  government  establishment,  should 
be  noticed  in  a work  of  this  kind  ; although  nothing 
but  the  official  machinery  by  which  it  was  at  first  set  in 
motion,  and  is  continued  in  operation,  belongs  to  the 
government.  The  funds  with  which  it  was  founded, 
were  furnished  by  an  individual,  and  he  a foreigner. 
The  history  runs  thus:  A noble-hearted  Englishman, 
whose  name  was  James  Smithson,  residing  in  the  city 
of  London,  bequeathed  all  his  property  to  the  United 
States  of  America,  for  the  purpose  of  founding  in 
Washington  an  establishment  to  be  known  as  the 
“ Smithsonian  Institution/’  for  the  purpose  of  increas- 
ing and  diffusing  knowledge  among  men.  The  Uni- 
ted States  accepted  the  bequest,  and  in  1846  passed  an 
act  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  beneficent  de- 
sign of  Mr.  Smithson.  This  act  created  “an  establish- 
ment,” as  it  is  denominated  in  the  act,  by  the  name 
before  stated.  It  might  have  been  called  a corporation, 
for  it  has  perpetual  succession,  and  many  of  the  pow- 
ers incident  to  a corporation. 

2.  By  this  act  the  President  and  Vice  President  of 
the  United  States,  the  Secretary  of  State,  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury,  the  Secretary  of  War,  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  the  Postmaster  General,  the  Attorney 
General,  and  Chief  Justice,  the  Commissioner  of  the 
Patent  Office,  and  the  Mayor  of  Washington — during 


SMITHSONIAN  INSTITUTION. 


255 


the  time  they  shall  hold  their  respective  offices,  to- 
gether with  such  other  persons  as  they  may  elect  hon- 
orary members — were  constituted  the  establishment 
under  the  name  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 

3.  It  is  located  at  Washington,  and  is  managed  by  a 
board  of  regents,  composed  of  the  Vice  President  of 
the  United  States,  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  United 
States,  the  Mayor  of  Washington,  three  members  of 
the  Senate,  and  three  members  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives; together  with  six  other  persons.  The 
board  choose  their  own  officers,  and  report  their  pro- 
ceedings to  Congress  at  each  session  thereof. 

4.  In  order  to  carry  out  Mr.  Smithson’s  noble  design 
of  founding  this  institution,  rooms  have  been  prepared 
for  the  reception  of  all  objects  of  art,  natural  history, 
plants,  and  geological  and  mineralogical  specimens 
which  now  or  hereafter  may  belong  to  the  United 
States,  and  such  as  may  hereafter  be  obtained.  These 
are  classified  and  arranged  so  as  to  facilitate  their  ex- 
amination and  study.  A vast  collection  has  already 
been  obtained  and  deposited  in  the  institution,  and  it 
is  constantly  increasing  by  donations,  by  the  researches 
and  industry  of  its  professors,  and  by  exchanges  made 
with  kindred  institutions  at  home  and  abroad.  These 
are  open  to  the  examination  of  the  public,  and  offer  an 
opportunity  to  students  and  others  to  extend  their  sci- 
entific knowledge.  This,  together  with  the  reports  of 
its  professors,  of  experiments  and  new  discoveries, 
make  it  indeed  an  institution  “ for  the  increase  and 
diffusion  of  knowledge  among  men.” 


17 


2 56 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXVII. 

Patent  Office,  Patent  Rights,  and  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Patents. 

1.  The  foundation  of  our  patent  laws  is  found  in  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States.  In  the  powers  it 
confers  on  Congress,  the  following  is  found : “ To  pro- 
mote the  progress  of  science  and  useful  arts,  by  secur- 
ing for  limited  times  to  authors  and  inventors  the  exclu- 
sive right  to  their  respective  writings  and  discoveries.” 
On  this  authority,  Congress  has  passed  numerous  acts 
for  this  purpose.  "We  find  one  of  this  kind  as  early  as 
1790. 

2.  A patent  right  is  an  exclusive  right,  granted  by 
an  officer  denominated  the  Commissioner  of  Patents, 
in  conformity  to  law,  to  the  inventor  or  discoverer  of 
any  new  and  useful  article.  The  exclusive  right  is 
conferred  by  acts  of  Congress,  on  compliance  of  the  in- 
ventor with  certain  conditions  which  are  clearly  speci- 
fied in  the  law.  The  evidence  that  such  exclusive  right 
has  been  conferred  on  any  individual,  is  contained  in 
a document,  called  “ letters  patent,”  issued  at  the  pat- 
ent office  fin  Washington  ; signed  by  the  Secretary  of 
the  Interior,  (formerly  by  the  Secretary  of  State),  coun- 
tersigned by  the  Commissioner  of  Patents,  and  sealed 
with  the  seal  of  his  office.  Thus  protected,  he  alone 
can  make,  use  and  sell  the  article  he  has  invented,  for 
the  term  of  fourteen  years  ; and  upon  showing  a good 
reason  therefor,  the  commissioner  will  extend  the  term 


THE  PATENT  OFFICE.  257 

seven  years  longer,  or  Congress  will  pass  a special  act 
for  that  purpose. 

3.  This  was  the  law  up  to  1861 ; and  is  still  in  force 
as  to  patents  granted  anterior  to  that  date.  But  a new 
act  was  then  passed,  extending  the  term  of  an  original 
patent  to  seventeen,  instead  of  fourteen  years,  and  pro- 
hibiting any  extension  of  such  patents. 

An  inventor,  before  he  can  obtain  a patent,  must 
swear  that  he  believes  he  is  the  inventor  or  discov- 
erer of  the  art,  machine  or  improvement,  for  which  he 
solicits  a patent.  He  must  also  give  in  writing  a clear, 
minute  description  of  it ; and,  when  necessary,  must 
make  and  deliver  a model  of  his  invention  ; which  in 
all  cases  must  be  something  new,  unused  and  unknown 
before,  or  his  application  will  be  rejected.  There  is 
considerable  expense  attending  the  procurement  of  a 
patent  right. 

4.  But  when  obtained,  no  person  except  the  paten- 
tee, has  any  right  to  make,  sell  or  use  the  article  pat- 
ented, until  the  time  has  expired  for  which  this  exclu- 
sive right  was  granted,  without  the  permission  of  the 
patentee.  Any  person  doing  so  is  liable  to  a heavy 
penalty,  and  may  be  prosecuted  in  the  Circuit  Court  of 
the  United  States;  this  court  having  original  jurisdic- 
tion in  all  cases  arising  under  the  patent  laws.  But  a 
writ  of  error  or  an  appeal  lies  to  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States. 

5.  The  Patent  Office,  when  first  established,  was  a 
bureau  of  the  State  Department,  and  the  Commissioner 
of  Patents  acted  under  the  direction  of  the  Secretary  of 
State.  But  after  the  creation  of  the  Department  of  the 


258 


OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Interior,  in  1849,  it  was  transferred  to  it,  became  a bu- 
reau of  the  new  department,  and  the  commissioner  now 
acts  under  the  general  direction  of  its  secretary. 

THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  PATENTS 

6.  Is  appointed  by  the  President  and  Senate.  His 
duties  are  best  explained  in  the  language  of  the  law 
itself,  which,  in  speaking  of  the  creation  and  appoint- 
ment of  this  official,  says  that  his  duties  shall  be  “ to 
superintend,  execute  and  perform  all  such  acts  and 
things  touching  and  respecting  the  granting  and  issu- 
ing of  patents  for  new  and  useful  discoveries,  inven- 
tions and  improvements,  as  are  herein  provided  for, 
or  shall  hereafter  be  by  law  directed  to  be  done  and 
performed.” 

He  has  the  charge  and  custody  of  all  books,  records, 
papers,  models,  machines,  and  all  other  things  belong- 
ing to  the  patent  office ; and  has  the  privilege  of  send- 
ing and  receiving  letters  and  packages  by  mail,  relat- 
ing to  the  business  of  the  office,  free  of  postage.  He 
has  the  power  to  appoint  his  clerks,  examiners  and 
subordinates ; among  whom  are  patent  office  agents, 
who  may  be  appointed  in  not  more  than  twenty  of  the 
principal  cities  and  towns  in  the  United  States.  It  is 
their  duty  to  forward  to  the  patent  office  all  such 
models,  specimens  and  manufactures,  as  shall  be  in- 
tended to  be  patented. 

7.  In  cases  of  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the  com- 
missioner, the  appeal  may  be  made  to  the  board  of  ex- 
aminers, or  to  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  District  Court 
of  the  United  States  for  the  District  of  Columbia. 


THE  PATENT  OFFICE. 


259 


There  is  a seal  for  the  patent  office,  which  the  com- 
missioner keeps,  and  which  he  must  affix  to  patents 
when  granted,  and  to  other  papers  and  records  issued 
from  his  office,  which  are  wanted  as  evidence  in  other 
places. 

He  is  also  authorized  to  publish  a classified  and  al- 
phabetical list  of  all  patents  issued  at  the  patent  office. 
This  he  frequently  does,  for  the  information  of  the 
public. 


260 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXYIII. 

Copyrights. 

1.  A copyright  is  an  exclusive  privilege  given  to 
any  citizen  of  the  United  States  to  print,  publish  or 
sell  any  book,  map,  chart,  engraving,  or  musical  com- 
position of  which  he  or  she  is  the  author.  This  right 
is  given  by  the  laws  of  Congress.  Ho  State  can  give 
it.  The  object  of  the  law  is  to  encourage  authors,  and 
to  compensate  them  for  their  labors.  This  compensa- 
tion they  would  not  receive  if  everybody  might  print 
and  publish  their  productions.  A copyright  is  a kind 
of  property,  and  may  be  sold  and  inherited  like  other 
property. 

2.  Since  the  publication  of  the  former  edition  of  this 
work,  Congress  has  so  changed  the  law  relating  to  copy- 
rights, that  in  order  to  show  what  it  is,  instead  of 
what  it  teas,  we  have  to  strike  out  nearly  the  whole  of 
this  chapter,  as  it  was  in  the  former  editions,  so  as  to 
make  room  for  the  law  as  it  now  stands. 

Up  to  1849,  the  department  of  the  Secretary  of  State 
was  charged  with  the  duty  of  issuing  copyrights,  and 
with  all  matters  pertaining  thereto ; after  that  date 
it  was  transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Interior, 
and  then  by  an  act  passed  July  8, 1870,  the  Librarian 
of  Congress  was  authorized  and  it  was  made  his  duty  to 
perform  all  acts  and  duties  touching  copyrights.  To 
him  also  the  author  must  send  copies  of  the  copyright 
book,  or  other  articles,  instead  of  sending  them  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Interior  as  heretofore. 

3.  When  the  author  has  complied  with  all  the  provi- 
sions of  the  law,  it  is  made  the  duty  of  the  Librarian  of 
Congress  to  give  him  a certificate  to  that  effect,  which 


COPYRIGHTS. 


261 


is  the  proof  that  he  is  entitled  to  the  copyright.  This 
gives  the  author  the  exclusive  right  to  print,  publish 
and  sell  the  work  for  the  term  of  28  years,  and  by  the 
act  of  1870  this  term  may  be  extended  to  14  years  more, 
by  compliance  with  certain  provisions  of  laws  made  for 
that  purpose. 

In  case  a copyright  is  assigned  from  the  owner  to 
another  party,  the  assignment  (to  be  valid  against  any 
subsequent  purchaser)  must  be  recorded  in  the  office  of 
the  Librarian  of  Congress. 

By  the  law  as  it  now  stands,  not  only  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  but  residents  therein  may  obtain  copy- 
rights. 

4.  Suits  brought  by  the  owner  of  a copyright,  for  any 
violation  of  the  law  must  always  be  brought  in  the  U.  S. 
courts,  and  never  in  state  courts,  and  they  must  be 
brought  within  two  years  after  the  cause  of  action  has 
arisen. 

Copyrights  may  be  obtained  not  only  for  books,  but 
also  for  maps,  charts,  dramatic  or  musical  compositions, 
cuts,  prints,  photographs,  paintings,  drawings,  chromos 
&c.  And  whatever  rights  the  author  had  in  any  of  the 
above  named  articles  continue  in  his  executors,  admin- 
istrators or  assigns. 

No  copyright  can  be  obtained,  unless  the  person  en- 
titled to  it  shall,  before  publication,  deposit  in  the  mail 
a printed  copy  of  the  title  of  the  book  or  other  article, 
or  a description  of  it,  addressed  to  the  Librarian  of 
Congress,  and  within  ten  days  of  the  publication  thereof 
deposit  in  the  mail  two  copies  of  such  copyright  book 
or  other  article,  addressed  to  the  same  officer. 


262 


OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXIX. 

Pensions,  Commissioner  of  Pensions,  Pension 
Office  and  Pension  Agents. 

1.  Pensions  are  annual  allowances  in  money,  made  by 
the  government  to  those  men  who  have  been  either  in 
the  army  or  navy  of  the  United  States,  and  who  have 
been  wounded  or  disabled  in  the  service  of  their  coun- 
try. It  amounts  really  to  extra  pay,  over  and  above 
the  monthly  pay  of  an  officer,  soldier  or  sailor,  at  the 
time  the  wound  was  received.  It  has  cost  the  United 
States  millions  of  dollars  to  support  these  pensioners ; 
for  there  never  was  a time  since  the  establishment  of 
the  government  when  it  had  not  more  or  less  of  these 
unfortunate  men  to  provide  for  by  money  paid  from 
the  United  Slates  Treasury  in  the  shape  of  pensions. 
Atfirst  there  were  the  disabled  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the 
Revolutionary  war  to  be  provided  for,  immediately  after 
the  government  was  put  into  operation.  But  few  if 
any  of  them  remain.  Then  came  the  second  war  with 
England,  called  the  war  of  1812,  (from  the  year  in 
which  it  commenced,)  which  greatly  increased  the 
number  of  pensioners.  Then  the  war  of  1846-7,  with 
Mexico,  added  thousands  to  the  pension  roll.  But  all 
these  wars  put  together  never  threw  so  many  men  on 
the  government  for  support,  or  partial  support,  as  the 
late  civil  war  between  the  North  and  South.  At  no 
former  period  was  the  pension  list  so  large  as  at  pre- 
sent. It  will  remain  so  for  years  to  come,  requiring 
an  appropriation  of  many  millions  annually  to  aid 
these  unfortunate  men  who  have  become  wholly  or 


PENSIONS. 


263 


partially  incapable  of  supporting  themselves.  These 
greatly  increase  the  expenses  of  the  government,  and 
atford  a forcible  comment  upon  the  evils  and  horrors 
of  war. 

2.  The  pension  laws  not  only  provide  for  officers  and 
men  who  have  been  disabled  by  wounds,  but  it  pro- 
vides for  the  widows  and  orphan  children  of  such  as 
have  been  killed  in  battle  or  died  of  sickness  contracted 
while  in  the  service  of  the  country.  These  provisions, 
it  will  be  readily  seen,  greatly  increase  the  number  of 
pensioners  upon  the  government.  These  receive  the 
same  in  amount  as  the  husband  or  father  would  have 
received  had  he  survived  his  wounds. 

3.  It  is  not  intended,  in  granting  a pension  to  a per- 
son, to  give  him  a full  support.  Pensions  are  mode- 
rate amounts,  generally  about  half  the  pay  which  the 
recipient  received  at  the  time  he  was  wounded.  Offi- 
cers’ pensions  are  graduated  according  to  their  rank. 

4.  From  what  has  already  been  said  on  this  subject, 
it  will  be  plainly  seen  that  it  requires  much  care,  labor, 
and  attention  to  keep  correctly  the  list  of  pensioners 
upon  the  government,  and  to  detect  all  the  frauds 
which  pension  agents  and  other  interested  parties  may 
perpetrate  upon  it. 

5.  In  order  to  accomplish  this  benevolent  design  of 
the  government,  a bureau  was  established  in  the  War 
Department  (since  transferred  to  the  Department  of 
the  Interior),  at  the  head  of  which  an  officer  denomi- 
nated the  Commissioner  of  Pensions,  is  placed.  This 
bureau  isproperly  the  pension  office.  The  commissioner 
is  appointed  by  the  President  and  Senate,  and  holds  his 
office  during  the  pleasure  of  the  President.  It  was  his 


264  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

duty  formerly,  under  the  direction  of  the  Secretaries  of 
War  and  the  Navy,  but  now  under  the  supervision  of 
the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  to  execute  all  such 
duties  relating  to  pensions  as  the  President  shall  direct. 
He  is  charged  to  carry  out  all  the  laws  in  relation  to 
this  matter. 

6.  The  persons  entitled  to  pensions  are  necessarily 
scattered  all  over  the  States  and  Territories,  and  many 
of  them  could  not  bear  the  fatigue  or  expense  of  mak- 
ing their  demands  at  Washington.  To  render  this 
unnecessary,  the  Sec’v  of  the  Interior  is  authorized  to 
appoint  pension  agents  in  all  the  States  and  Territories. 
These  agents  receive  the  money  due  to  pensioners  in 
the  district  where  they  reside,  and  distribute  it  as  di- 
rected by  the  Commissioner  of  Pensions.  In  this  way 
most  of  the  pensions  are  paid — the  agents  receiving  a 
per  centage  for  their  services. 

T.  In  order  that  the  pensioners  shall  have  and  enjoy  the 
full  benefits  of  this  government  bounty,  the  law  protects 
the  pension,  and  does  not  allow  it  to  be  taken  away 
from  the  recipient,  by  any  process  of  law,  for  debt,  or 
for  any  cause  whatever. 

The  preceding  provisions  are  extended  not  only  to 
those  who  have  been  injured  in  some  6f  the  great  wars, 
but  also  to  those  who  have  been  disabled  in  any  of  the 
Indian  wars,  of  which  we  have  had  many,  and  which 
we  are  still  having. 


HOSPITALS  AND  ASYLUMS. 


265 


CHAPTER  LXX. 

Hospitals  and  Asylums. 

1.  The  hospitals  and  asylums  for  the  sick,  disabled, 
and  insane  in  any  country,  are  the  evidences  of  the 
humanity,  benevolence  and  Christian  charity  of  the 
government  of  that  country ; and  we  know  of  none,  in 
ancient  or  modern  times,  where  these  benevolent  in- 
stitutions exist  in  greater  number,  or  with  greater  ef- 
ficiency than  in  the  United  States.  They  have  been 
established  by  the  general  government  and  by  the 
several  State  governments  ; by  charitable  societies  and 
by  individuals  ; not  only  for  the  sick  and  infirm,  but 
for  the  blind,  the  deaf,  the  insane  and  the  idiotic.  "We 
do  not  propose  to  go  into  any  general  history  or  de- 
scription of  these  institutions,  but  only  to  notice  those 
established  by  the  United  States  government,  and  now 
under  its  control,  in  order  to  show  its  care  for  those 
who  have  served  their  country,  but  are  unable  to  pro- 
vide for  their  wants. 

2.  The  hospitals  and  asylums  for  sick  and  disabled 
soldiers  and  seamen,  are  located  in  different  parts  of 
the  country ; and  in  such  places  as  are  the  most  acces- 
sible and  convenient  to  those  who  are  under  the  neces- 
sity of  retiring  to  these  places  of  refuge. 

The  United  States  have  established  four  kinds  of 
these  institutions,  principally  for  relief  of  their  soldiers 
and  seamen.  The  first  of  these  are 

THE  MARINE  HOSPITALS. 

3.  These  are  located  near  important  sea  ports.  At 


266  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

these  places  seamen  depart  for,  and  arrive  from  their 
voyages,  and  are  found  in  the  greatest  numbers ; and 
here  the  funds  for  support  of  the  marine  hospitals  are 
collected,  as  is  the  tonnage  on  ships,  viz.:  by  the  col- 
lectors of  the  ports.  For  this  purpose  the  law  author- 
izes the  collectors  of  customs  to  demand  and  receive 
the  sum  of  twenty  cents  per  month  from  the  wages  of 
every  sailor ; and  every  master  of  a vessel  is  obliged  to 
render  to  the  collector  an  accurate  account  of  the  num- 
ber of  seamen  on  board  his  vessel,  and  of  the  time  they 
have  been  employed  by  him,  since  his  last  entry  into 
any  port  of  the  United  States.  These  twenty  cents 
the  captain  must  pay  the  collector,  but  he  is  allowed 
to  deduct  it  from  each  seaman’s  wages.  In  this  man- 
ner the  funds  for  the  building,  furnishing  and  support 
of  the  marine  hospitals  are  raised.  The  collectors  of 
the  ports  pay  them  into  the  United  States  Treasury, 
and  the  Treasurer  disburses  them  to  the  directors  of 
the  hospitals  as  they  are  needed.  The  directors  are 
appointed  by  the  President.  They  appropriate  the 
funds,  and  have  the  general  direction  and  management 
of  the  institutions. 

4.  These  provisions  are  contained  in  an  act  entitled 
“ An  act  for  the  relief  of  sick  and  disabled  seamen,” 
passed  in  1798.  Seamen,  whether  in  the  merchant 
service  or  in  the  naval  service  of  the  United  States, 
were  indiscriminately  taxed  for  the  support  of  these 
hospitals ; and  both  have  the  same  rights,  privileges 
and  benefits  in  them.  The  money  thus  collected  from 
seamen  is  called  “ hospital  money,”  and  the  fund  is 
denominated  “ the  marine  hospital  fund.”  In  1864, 
there  were  24  marine  hospitals  in  the  United  States. 


HOSPITALS  AND  ASYLUMS. 


267 


NAVY  HOSPITALS. 

5.  In  1811,  an  act  was  passed  to  establish  navy  hos- 
pitals, for  the  exclusive  use  of  such  seamen  as  belonged 
to  the  navy.  This  new  institution  was  at  first  placed 
under  the  management  of  a board  of  commissioners 
known  as  the  commissioners  of  navy  hospitals.  This 
commission  consisted  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  Navy, 
Treasury  and  War.  Butin  1832  this  was  changed; 
and  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  was  made  sole  trustee 
of  the  navy  hospital  fund,  which  was  made  up  of  $50, 
000  appropriated  by  Congress  for  that  purpose,  together 
with  twenty  cents  per  month  collected  from  seamen 
belonging  to  the  navy,  and  the  fines  imposed  on  navy 
officers,  seamen  and  marines. 

6.  The  Commissioners  were  authorized  to  purchase 
or  erect  suitable  buildings  for  navy  hospitals. 

We  need  not  go  further  in  our  remarks  upon  these 
institutions,  for  in  all  their  objects  and  purposes,  they 
are  so  similar  to  those  of  the  marine  hospitals  just  de- 
scribed, that  anything  further  would  be  little  more 
than  repetition. 

MILITARY  ASYLUMS. 

7.  In  1851,  Congress  passed  an  act  for  the  establish- 
ment of  military  asylums,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
the  same  provisions  for  wounded  and  disabled  soldiers 
as  had  already  been  made  for  that  class  of  sea- 
men. These  institutions  are  located  in  different  sec- 
tions of  the  country  where  deemed  most  eligible  and 
convenient  for  those  who  need  such  a place  of  refuge. 
They  are  placed  under  the  government  of  a board 


268  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

of  commissioners,  consisting  of  the  general  in  chief, 
and  eight  other  military  officers  of  high  rank,  who 
submit  their  acts  to  the  Secretary  of  "War  for  his  ap- 
proval. 

8.  The  officers  of  these  asylums  must  be  taken  from 
the  army,  and  consist  of  a governor,  a deputy  gover- 
nor and  secretary,  who  is  also  treasurer.  The  funds 
for  their  support  are  raised  by  a tax  of  twenty-five 
cents  per  month  on  the  soldiers,  to  which  are  added 
the  fines  and  penalties  adjudged  against  soldiers  by 
courts  martial,  with  forfeitures  for  desertion,  &c. 

Persons  receiving  pensions  from  the  government 
may  be  admitted  into  these  asylums  upon  condition 
that  they  surrender  their  pensions  to  the  use  of  the  in- 
stitution while  they  remain  in  it. 

The  commissioners  are  authorized  to  buy  sites  and 
buildings  for  these  institutions,  and  to  receive  dona- 
tions of  them.  They  also  furnish  them  with  whatever 
is  necessary  for  the  comfort  of  the  inmates,  and  make 
such  laws  and  regulations  for  their  government  as  they 
deem  proper. 

Deserters,  mutineers,  and  habitual  drunkards,  are 
excluded  from  the  benefits  of  these  asylums. 

INSANE  ASYLUM. 

9.  Among  these  benevolent  institutions  provided  by 
a generous  government  for  the  support  of  those  who 
have  faithfully  served  their  country,  the  insane  asylum 
ought  to  he  noticed.  The  title  of  this  establishment  is 
“the  government  hospital  for  the  insane.”  Its  objects 
are  the  cure  and  kind  treatment  of  the  insane  of  the 
army  and  navy,  and  of  the  District  of  Columbia.  It  is 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

SIXTEENTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


HOSPITALS  AMD  ASYLUMS. 


269 


under  the  control  of  a board  of  nine  visitors,  all  of 
whom  must  be  citizens  of  the  said  District.  They  are 
appointed  by  the  President,  and  annually  report  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Interior  the  condition  of  the  asy- 
lum and  its  inmates.  They  serve  without  compensation. 

10.  But  the  superintendent,  who  must  be  a phy- 
sician, receives  $2,000  per  annum  for  his  services. 
There  is  a farm  attached  to  the  asylum,  which  is  under 
the  direction  of  the  superintendent,  who  receives  pa- 
tients upon  the  order  of  the  Secretary  of  "War,  or  the 
Navy,  and  upon  the  order  of  the  Secretary  of  the  In- 
terior. He  may  receive  indigent  insane  persons  residing 
in  the  District  of  Columbia.  If  other  than  indigent 
persons  are  admitted,  they  must  pay  for  the  privilege 
a sum  not  less  than  the  cost  of  their  support. 

11.  The  foregoing  might  suffice  for  what  we  have  to 
say  upon  these  government  establishments,  because  it 
includes  all  which  are  permanent  institutions,  designed 
to  be  in  perpetual  operation,  and  very  different  from 
the  military  hospitals  in  time  of  war.  These  are  for 
temporary  purposes,  and  are  established  wherever  the 
army  happens  to  be,  and  especially  near  where  the  great 
battles  have  been  fought,  that  immediate  relief  may  be 
given  to  the  sick  and  wounded.  These  are  established 
by  the  commanders  of  the  army,  and  are  under  their  con- 
trol. And  here  let  it  be  recorded  to  their  praise,  that 
since  military  hospitals  were  known,  never  have  any 
been  seen  which  for  order,  cleanliness  and  efficiency  in 
administering  to  the  comfort  and  care  of  the  sick  aud 
wounded  soldiers,  surpassed  those  of  the  United  States 
during;  the  late  civil  war. 


270 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LSXI. 

Commissioner  of  Public  Buildings, 

1.  The  buildings  at  Washington  belonging  to  the 
United  States,  are  the  grandest,  the  largest  and  the 
most  expensive  in  the  country.  The  capitol  in  which 
Congress  meets,  is  the  largest  and  most  expensive 
building  ever  erected  on  the  continent,  and  is  sur- 
passed by  few  in  the  world.  The  Treasury  building, 
the  General  Post  Office,  and  the  Patent  office,  are  all 
splendid  structures,  as  are  also  many  others  devoted  to 
the  transaction  of  public  business. 

2.  These  all  require  repairs,  alterations,  care  and 
oversight,  that  they  may  be  preserved  and  kept  in 
order.  The  duty  of  superintendence  of  these  public 
buildings  was  formerly  placed  in  the  hands  of  three 
commissioners  and  a superintendent  of  public  build- 
ings. 

But  in  1816,  an  act  was  passed  by  which  the  offices 
of  superintendent  and  three  commissioners  were 
abolished,  and  their  duties  all  put  into  the  hands  of 
one  man,  who  is  denominated  “the  commissioner  of 
public  buildings.”  lie  is  appointed  by  the  President 
and  Senate,  and  can  hold  no  other  office  under  the 
United  States.  He  must  give  bonds  for  the  faithful 
performance  of  his  duties,  and  must  reside  near  the 
capitol.  In  the  discharge  of  his  duties  he  acts  under 
the  direction  of  the  President  and  the  presiding  offi- 
cers of  the  two  Houses  of  Congress. 


COMMISSIONER  OF  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS.  271 

3.  It  is  made  his  duty  to  report  to  Congress  at  the 
commencement  of  each  session,  the  manner  in  which 
all  appropriations  for  the  public  buildings  have  been 
applied,  the  condition  they  are  in,  together  with  that 
of  the  public  grounds,  and'  also  to  report  the  means 
necessary  for  their  perservation.  It  is  his  duty  to  take 
charge  of  and  superintend  all  the  buildings  belonging 
to  the  United  States  in  Washington,  and  to  perform 
all  such  duties  as  the  laws  from  time  to  time  re- 
quire of  him. 

[The  office  of  Commissioner  of  Public  Buildings  has 
been  abolished  since  the  above  was  written.  The  du- 
ties are  now  performed  by  an  officer  from  each  depart- 
ment.] 


18 


272 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXXn. 

Congressional  and  Law  Libraries. 

1.  In  the  capitol  there  is  a large  library,  consisting 
of  two  parts ; one  part  called  the  Congressional  library, 
the  other,  the  law  library.  The  latter  is  made  a part 
of  the  former  by  an  act  of  Congress.  Both  are  sub- 
ject to  the  same  laws  and  rules,  and  both  are  sup- 
ported by  appropriations  made  by  Congress.  This  in- 
stitution bearing  the  title  of  “ Congressional  library,” 
might  lead  to  the  supposition  that  it  was  established 
for  the  exclusive  use  of  Congress.  But  this  is  not  so. 
Its  use  has  been  extended  to  the  judges  of  the  Su- 
preme Court ; to  all  the  heads  of  departments,  to  the 
Attorney  General;  to  all  the  members  of  the  diplo- 
matic corps,  (foreign  ministers) ; to  the  secretary  of  the 
Senate;  to  the  clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
to  the  chaplains  of  Congress,  all  ex-Presidents  and  to 
the  solicitor  of  the  Treasury. 

2.  It  has  a librarian,  appointed  by  the  President  and 
Senate,  who  is  allowed  to  appoint  two  assistants.  Ho 
book  or  map  is  allowed  to  be  taken  out  of  the  library 
by  any  person,  except  the  President,  Vice-President, 
members  of  the  Senate  and  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives. 

3.  Here  are  kept  all  the  laws  which  have  ever  been 
enacted  by  Congress,  together  with  a record  of  all  its 
proceedings,  the  laws  of  all  the  different  States,  with 
many  of  those  of  foreign  countries ; also  a lai’ge  col- 


CONGRESSIONAL  LIBRARY. 


273 


lection  of  books  on  promiscuous  subjects,  useful  to 
Members  of  Congress  and  to  those  who  have  to  ad- 
minister the  government.  No  where  else  can  so  com- 
plete a history  of  the  acts  and  proceedings  of  the  gov- 
ernment be  found,  as  in  the  Congressional  library  at 
Washington. 

This  institution  dates  back  to  the  year  1800,  when 
an  act  was  passed  making  the  first  appropriation  of 
$5,000  for  its  establishment.  The  books  purchased 
with  this  $5,000,  with  those  belonging  to  both 
Houses,  were  placed  together,  and  thus  this  library 
was  commenced. 


274 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT, 


CHAPTER  LXXIIL 

The  Official  Register. 

1.  Congress,  in  1816,  passed  an  act  authorizing 
and  requiring  the  Secretary  of  State,  once  in  two  years, 
to  print  and  publish  a book  called  “the  official  regis- 
ter,’' in  which  he  was  ordered  to  register  the  names  of 
every  officer  and  agent  of  the  government,  in  the  civil, 
military  and  naval  departments,  including  cadets  and 
midshipmen,  together  with  the  compensation  received 
by  each;  the  names  of  the  State  and  county  where 
born;  and  the  name  of  the  place  where  employed, 
whether  at  home  or  abroad. 

To  the  list  of  persons  employed  in  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment, the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  is  required  to  subjoin 
the  names,  force  and  condition  of  all  the  ships  and  ves- 
sels belonging  to  the  United  States,  and  when  and 
where  built. 

This  work  has  been  published  and  distributed,  as  the 
law  directs,  ever  since  the  passage  of  the  act,  and  is 
sometimes  denominated  “the  blue  book.”  It  is  a very 
convenient  and  useful  publication,  as  it  shows  in  com- 
pact form  the  whole  official  force  of  the  government 
in  each  department,  together  with  the  cost  of  main- 
taining it. 

So  small  a number  of  this  work  is  published,  that 
but  few  except  officials  ever  see  it.  It  can  be  found 
in  the  Congressional  library  at  Washington,  where 
twenty-five  copies  of  each  edition  are  deposited. 


GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE. 


275 


CHAPTER  LXXIY. 

The  Government  Printing  Office. 

1.  But  few  people  have  any  adequate  idea  of  the 
enormous  amount  of  printing  done  by  the  government. 
All  the  proceedings  of  both  Plouses  of  Congress  are 
printed  ; all  the  laws  are  printed,  and  hundreds  of  bills 
which  are  never  passed  into  laws,  are  printed.  The 
President’s  messages  and  all  the  reports  of  heads  of  de- 
partments and  bureaus  ; the  reports  and  commissions 
of  army  and  navy  officers,  of  investigating  committees, 
of  various  superintendents,  agents,  and  government 
employees,  and  a multitude  of  other  things  quite  too 
tedious  to  enumerate,  are  all  printed  in  great  numbers, 
often  reaching  thousands  of  copies.  It  is  easily  under- 
stood that  the  government  printing  is  a heavy  item  in 
its  expenses,  and  everybody  knows  it  is  much  heavier 
than  it  ought  to  be.  The  people  are  taxed  to  pay  for 
large  editions  of  books  and  documents  that  are  never 
read,  and  in  which  the  public  feel  little  or  no  interest* 

2.  Until  1860,  the  government  hired  men  to  do  this 
work,  and  a printer  was  employed  by  each  house  of 
Congress.  But  great  complaints  were  made  of  the 
enormous  expense  to  which  the  country  was  subjected 
in  this  item  of  its  expenditures ; and  at  the  date  named, 
Congress  passed  an  act  establishing  a government 
printing  office,  to  be  under  the  direction  of  a superin- 
tendent of  public  printing.  The  sum  of  $150,000  was 
appropriated  for  the  purchase  of  necessary  buildings, 
machinery,  and  materials  for  the  purpose.  By  the  pro- 


276  OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

visions  of  the  act  it  was  made  the  superintendent’s  duty 
to  overlook  all  the  public  printing  and  binding,  not 
only  of  Congress,  but  of  all  the  departments,  and  of 
the  United  States  courts;  to  purchase  all  necessary 
materials  and  to  employ  all  the  workmen  required. 
And  that  Congress  may  know  how  the  establishment 
is  conducted  and  at  what  expense,  the  superintendent 
is  required  to  report  to  Congress  at  the  commencement 
of  every  session,  the  work  done,  the  number  of  hands 
employed,  and  the  exact  state  and  condition  of  the  es- 
tablishment. He  is  prohibited  from  paying  more  for 
work  done  in  this  office  than  is  given  for  the  same  ser- 
vices in  private  printing  offices  in  Washington. 

3.  The  superintendent  is  also  charged  with  the  duty 
of  procuring  all  blank  books,  maps,  drawings,  diagrams, 
views  and  charts,  which  may  be  ordered  by  Congress, 
or  by  the  heads  of  departments  and  bureaus.  But  the 
superintendent  himself  is  not  left  to  act  always  as  he 
may  think  proper,  for  in  many  cases  he  must  have  the 
approval  of  the  joint  committee  on  printing  of  both 
Houses  of  Congress. 

We  have  given  a brief  but  comprehensive  view  of 
this  government  establishment.  Whether  it  will  an- 
swer the  purposes  of  its  creation,  and  prove  to  be  a 
means  of  saving  to  the  government,  remains  to  be  seen. 

4.  If  it  should  be  successful,  the  people  may  con- 
gratulate themselves  that  one  change  has  been  made 
for  the  better,  and  that  one  effort  to  curtail  taxation, 
and  to  lessen  the  public  expenses,  has  been  accom- 
plished. Among  the  causes  which  may  produce  the 
overthrow  of  our  government,  few  are  more  danger- 


GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE.  277 

ous  than  the  reckless  extravagance  with  which  onr 
rulers  appropriate  and  spend  the  public  moneys,  seem- 
ing to  forget  the  fact  that  such  extravagance  falls 
with  crushing  weight  upon  the  laboring  classes,  who 
always  pay  directly  or  indirectly  the  greater  portion 
of  the  expenses  of  the  government.  And  those  who 
make  our  laws  would  do  well  to  consider  that  noth- 
ing is  more  dangerous  to  our  present  form  of  gov- 
ernment, than  the  enactment  of  laws  that  appear 
burthensome  or  tyrannical.  History  teaches  us  that 
a free  people  will  endure  much  before  rising  against 
their  own  form  of  government.  But  when  once  im- 
pelled to  such  a course,  all  odious  laws,  and  those 
who  make  them,  must  share  a common  fate. 


278 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXXY. 

Prisons. 

1.  Although  Congress  has  passed  laws  for  the  pun- 
ishment of  almost  every  crime  which  has  ever  been 
punishable  by  the  laws  of  any  civilized  nation,  and 
has  prescribed  various  kinds  of  punishment  for  differ- 
ent crimes,  such  as  fines,  imprisonment,  and  death  by 
hanging,  imprisonment  is  by  far  the  most  common. 
Yet  we  find  nothing  in  the  laws  to  show — nor  have 
we  ever  known— that  the  United  States  have  ever  built 
a prison  or  directed  one  to  be  built;  although  thou- 
sands have  been  put  in  prison  for  violations  of  the 
United  States  laws.  But  how  is  this  done  when  they 
have  no  prisons?  The  answer  is  that  they  use  the 
prisons  of  the  States  wherever  they  will  allow  it. 
This  arrangement  between  the  general  and  State  gov- 
ernments has  been  made  in  nearly  if  not  all  the  States; 
the  United  States  paying  for  the  support  of  their  pris- 
oners. 

2.  But  in  case  any  State  should  refuse  to  make  such 
an  agreement,  the  United  States  marshal  of  any  dis- 
trict where  a.  prisoner  is  to  be  confined,  is  authorized 
to  procure  some  building  where  the  prisoners  may  be 
safely  confined  in  the  district  where  they  have  been 
tried  and  convicted,  or  where  they  have  been  arrested 
and  are  held  for  trial. 

This  is  a far  more  economical  plan  than  it  would  be 
for  the  United  States  to  build  prisons  all  over  the 
country,  and  then  to  employ  keepers  of  them.  It  ex- 
emplifies the  friendly  relations  existing  between  the 
States  and  the  general  government. 


AGRICULTURE. 


279 


CHAPTER  LXXVI. 

Agriculture. 

1.  In  May,  1862,  Congress  passed  an  act,  the  two 
first  sections  of  which  read  as  follows : 

Sec.  1.  “ There  is  hereby  established  at  the  seat  of 
government  of  the  United  States,  a department  of  ag- 
riculture; the  general  designs  and  duties  of  which 
shall  be  to  acquire  and  diffuse  among  the  people  of 
the  United  States,  useful  information  on  subjects  con- 
nected with  agriculture,  in  the  most  general  and  com- 
prehensive sense  of  that  word,  and  to  procure,  propa- 
gate and  distribute  among  the  people  new  and  valua- 
ble seeds  and  plants.” 

Sec.  2.  u There  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President, 
by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  a 
commissioner  of  agriculture,  who  shall  be  the  chief 
executive  officer  of  the  department  of  agriculture ; 
who  shall  hold  his  office  by  a tenure  similar  to  that  of 
other  civil  officers  appointed  by  the  President,  and 
who  shall  receive  for  his  compensation  a salary  of  three 
thousand  dollars  per  annum.” 

2.  We  have  inserted  these  two  sections  of  this  law, 
because  we  could  not  by  any  language  of  our  own, 
convey  any  better  idea  of  the  objects  and  purposes  for 
which  this  new  department  was  created.  In  the  lan- 
guage of  the  law  it  is  called  a department,  but  as  its 
head  ranks  no  higher  than  a commissioner,  we  think  it 
would  be  more  properly  styled  a bureau  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  Interior. 


280  OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

3.  The  duties  of  the  head  of  this  bureau  are  to  ac- 
quire and  preserve  in  his  department  all  the  informa- 
tion concerning  agriculture  which  he  can  obtain  by 
means  of  books,  correspondence  and  experiments.  For 
this  latter  purpose  a propagating  garden  is  provided  for 
his  use.  He  is  also  to  collect  as  many  new  seeds  and 
plants  as  he  is  able  to  obtain,  to  test  their  value  by  cul- 
tivation, and  then  to  distribute  them  among  agricultu- 
rists. He  superintends  the  expenditure  of  all  money 
appropriated  by  Congress  to  the  department,  and  re- 
ports the  same  annually  to  Congress,  together  with  his 
acts,  experiments,  &c. 

He  has  the  power  to  appoint  a chief  clerk  and  such 
other  subordinates  as  Congress  may  deem  necessary. 
The  commissioner  and  his  chief  clerk  both  give  bonds 
for  the  right  appropriation  of  all  moneys  received  by 
them,  and  for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  respec- 
tive duties. 

This  bureau  is  yet  in  its  infancy.  Sufficient  time 
has  not  elapsed  for  its  development,  or  to  show  the  re- 
sults of  its  experiments.  It  will  undoubtedly  become 
an  important  and  useful  institution  hereafter. 


INDIANS. 


281 


CHAPTER  LXXVH. 

Indians. 

1.  Every  one  acquainted  with  the  history  of  Amer- 
ica, knows  that  when  first  discovered  by  Christopher 
Columbus  in  1492,  the  whole  continent,  North  as  well 
as  South,  was  peopled  with  Indians.  They  were  the 
aborigines  or  first  inhabitants  of  the  country  ; and  ac- 
cording to  the  recognized  rules  and  usages  of  the 
world,  they  were  the  owners  of  the  soil.  This  right 
has  been  admitted  by  our  government,  and  hence  we 
have  purchased  these  lands  at  such  prices  as  were 
agreed  upon  by  the  two  parties.  The  Indians  placed 
a lower  value  upon  them  than  the  whites  ; for,  with 
the  exception  of  small  patches  here  and  there,  which 
they  cultivated  for  corn  and  tobacco,  they  made  no  use 
of  their  lands  except  for  hunting  grounds  ; while  the 
whites  wanted  them  for  cultivation.  In  this  way  the 
whites  have  become  the  possessors  of  nearly  all  the 
land  once  owned  by  the  Indians,  whose  possessions 
now  are  very  small. 

2.  Their  idle  habits,  their  frequent  wars  amongthem- 
selves,  and  the  wars  with  the  whites  growing  out  of 
their  murderous  propensities,  have  almost  exterminated 
the  whole  race.  There  is  now  but  a small  remnant 
left  of  what  was  200  years  ago  a mighty  host.  Many 
of  these  tribes  have  become  entirely  extinct,  others  are 
nearly  so ; and  scarcely  one  of  them  is  found  whose 
numbers  are  not  greatly  diminished.  It  is  melan- 
choly to  contemplate  the  fate  of  these  poor  savages. 


282  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

As  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  there  are  not  more 
than  abut  300,000  of  them  left  in  the  United  States. 
These  are  mostly  to  be  found  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river,  and  stretching  thence  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific. 
A few  of  them  have  remained  among  the  whites,  and 
become  civilized ; but  most  of  them  have  kept  aloof 
from  civilization,  perferring  their  wandering  habits, 
and  relying  on  hunting  and  fishing  for  a subsistence. 

They  do  not  admit  themselves  to  be  citizens  of  our 
government,  neither  do  we  claim  them  as  such,  nor  do 
we  exercise  any  jurisdiction  or  authority  over  them, 
except  for  the  perpetration  of  crimes.  We  treat  them 
as  foreigners,  not  as  citizens,  and  hence  we  make  trea- 
ties with  them  as  we  do  with  foreign  nations. 

3.  Our  treaties  with  them  have  related  principally  to 
the  purchase  of  lands  and  to  stipulations  of  amity  and 
frendship  between  us.  But  they  are  sometimes  treach- 
erous, and  do  not  act  toward  us  as  they  have  agreed  to 
do.  This  has  led  to  a number  of  wars  between  us  and 
them ; the  fault  of  which  has  not  always  been  on  the 
side  of  the  Indians.  The  whites  have  often  treated 
them  badly;  have  often  cheated  them,  and  killed  them; 
and  this  has  led  to  some  of  the  wars  we  have  men- 
tioned. 

4.  The  preceding  remarks  might  have  been  omitted 
in  a work  of  this  kind,  had  they  notseemed  tobe  appro- 
priate as  an  introduction  to  the  notice  we  ought  to  take 
of  the  numerous  treaties  with  the  Indians,  the  officers 
and  agents  of  the  government  in  making  and  carrying 
out  those  treaties,  and  of  the  numerous  laws  passed  by 
Congress  in  relation  to  Indians  and  Indian  affairs. 


INDIANS. 


283 


5.  The  Indians  are  unlearned,  ignorant  and  barbar- 
ous. It  has  required  a great  deal  of  wisdom  and  good 
management  on  the  part  of  the  government,  to  keep 
on  good  terms  with  them,  and  to  prevent  them  from 
murdering  the  whites,  or  from  stealing  their  property, 
where  they  have  settled  near  them.  The  United  States 
have  also  restrained  our  own  citizens  from  purchasing 
their  lands,  from  trading  with  them,  and  especially 
from  selling  them  intoxicating  liquors,  of  which  they 
are  very  fond.  If  these  negotiations  were  allowed  be- 
tween them  and  the  whites,  the  Indians  wrould,  in  nu- 
merous instances,  be  over-reached  and  cheated  by'  un- 
scrupulous and  dishonest  white  men.  This  would  lead 
to  murders  and  wars,  for  an  Indian  seems  to  have  no 
idea  of  redress  for  a wrong  done  to  him,  other  than 
that  of  killing  the  wrong-doer.  The  government, 
through  its  agents,  buys  their  lands,  and  pays  them  in 
money  or  in  goods,  according  to  the  terms  of  the  treaty. 
Hence  the  necessity  of  government  officers  appointed 
to  execute  the  laws  relating  to  Indians  and  Indian  af- 
fairs. 

, 6.  There  is  in  the  Interior  Department  a bureau  for 
this  express  purpose,  the  head  of  which  is  called  the 

COMMISSIONER  OE  INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 

He  is  appointed  by  the  President  and  Senate,  and 
performs  his  duties  under  the  direction  of  the  Secre- 
retary  of  War. 

In  addition  to  this  officer,  there  are  superintendents 
of  Indian  affairs,  and  Indian  agents,  over  whom  the 
superintendents  exercise  a directing  power.  These 


284  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

superintendencies  andagencies  are  not  pcrman ent  estab- 
lishments, but  are  continued  as  long  as  any  consider- 
able number  of  Indians  remain  near  the  agency.  When 
they  have  sold  their  lands  and  removed  farther  west, 
the  agency  is  discontinued,  or  removed  to  the  place 
where  the  Indians  have  located  themselves. 

The  President  may  discontinue  any  Indian  agency 
whenever  he  thinks  it  expedient  to  do  so. 

7.  As  before  stated,  the  Indians  are  not  citizens  of 
the  United  States.  They  have  no  Representatives  in 
Congress,  and  in  adjusting  the  number  of  Representa- 
tives to  which  any  State  is  entitled  from  the  number  of 
its  inhabitants,  the  Indians  (excepting  a few  who  are 
taxed),  are  not  counted.  The  government  has  exer- 
cised parental  care  over  them  in  endeavors  to  prevent 
them  from  warring  upon  each  other,  and  to  induce 
them  to  adopt  the  habits  of  civilized  life  ; in  the  pay- 
ments made  for  their  lands,  in  the  pains  it  has  taken 
to  furnish  them  with  agricultural  and  mechanical  im- 
plements ; in  the  employment  of  mechanics  and 
teachers  to  reside  among  them  and  to  instruct  them  in 
science  and  the  mechanical  arts.  It  also  employs  in- 
terpreters, for  but  few  of  them  can  speak  the  English 
language. 

8.  The  superintendents  and  agents,  if  so  directed  by 
the  President,  make  treaties  of  amity  and  friendship 
with  them,  and  for  the  purchase  of  their  lands.  The 
government  does  not  allow  citizens  or  foreigners  to  re- 
side among  them  or  to  trade  with  them  without  a li- 
cense; and  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  on  friendly 
terms  with  them,  it  often  makes  valuable  presents  of 
such  articles  as  they  need. 


INDIANS. 


285 


9 Superintendents  and  agents  are  appointed  for 
four  years ; give  bonds  for  the  faithful  performance  of 
their  duties,  and  report  and  account  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Interior  for  the  money  and  goods  paid  to 
and  distributed  among  the  Indians. 

INDIAN  FUNDS  AND  INDIAN  ANNUITIES. 

10.  In  order  to  prevent  them  from  squandering  their 
money  for  rum  and  useless  trinkets,  and  to  save  them 
from  being  cheated  by  dishonest  traders,  the  United 
States  government  has  invested  the  money  paid  for 
their  lands  in  sound  and  safe  stocks,  and  annually  pay 
them  the  interest,  through  its  superintendents  and 
agents.  The  disbursement  of  this  interest,  called  In- 
dian annuities,  among  the  different  tribes  and  indi- 
viduals to  whom  it  belongs,  is  an  important  part  of  the 
duties  of  these  government  agents. 


286 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXXYHI. 

Passports. 

1.  Passports  are  one  of  the  devices  or  means  used 
by  governments  to  protect  their  citizens  when  in  for- 
eign countries.  They  are  written  documents,  issued 
and  signed  by  an  authorized  agent  of  the  government 
which  gives  them.  The  design  of  a passport  is,  First: 
to  give  authentic  information  to  whom  it  may  concern, 
to  what  nation  the  bearer  of  the  passport  belongs ; and 
second,  to  protect  him,  and  secure  to  him  all  the 
rights  and  privileges  which  the  government  has  a right 
to  claim  for  its  citizens  by  virtue  of  any  treaty  of 
amity  and  friendship  existing  between  it  and  the  coun- 
try whither  its  citizens  may  go. 

The  passport  informs  the  world  that  the  bearer  of  it 
is  a citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  that  he  travels 
under  its  protection,  and  that  it  would  demand  and  ex- 
act satisfaction  of  any  one  who  wronged  or  injured 
him  who  bears  such  credentials. 

2.  In  the  United.  States,  the  Secretary  of  State  is  the 
officer  authorized  by  law  to  issue  passports.  He  has 
the  authority  also  to  cause  them  to  be  issued  in  for- 
eign countries  by  our  foreign  ministers  and  consuls, 
under  such  restrictions  and  rules  as  may  be  designated 
by  the  President.  This  is  allowed  as  a matter  of  con- 
venience to  our  citizens  who  happen  to  be  in  foreign 
countries  without  them ; who  need  their  protection, 
and  who  would  be  subjected  to  much  delay  and  ex- 
pense by  going  or  sending  home  to  procure  them. 

Passports  are  not  granted  to  any  other  than  citizens 
of  the  United  States,  whether  issued  by  the  Secretary 


ANDREW  JOHNSON. 

/ 

SEVENTEENTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


PASSPORTS.  287 

or  by  any  diplomatic  or  consular  agent  of  our  govern- 
ment. 

3.  Besides  these  passports,  which  are  given  only  to 
our  own  citizens  when  in  foreign  countries,  or  who  in- 
tend to  go  there,  there  is  another  kind  issued  to  for- 
eigners who  wish  to  go  among  the  Indians  in  the  In- 
dian territory,  or  on  the  Indian  reservations.  Indeed, 
our  own  citizens  are  not  allowed  to  go  among  them 
without  permission.  But  foreigners  cannot  go  with- 
out a passport  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  which  spe- 
cifies the  route  over  which  the  bearer  must  pass,  and 
the  length  of  time  he  is  allowed  to  remain  among 
them.  This  is  done  to  prevent  unfriendly  foreigners 
from  fomenting  mischief,  or  from  exciting  unkind  feel- 
ings towards  our  government  or  people.  Such  un- 
friendly feelings  have  been  created  by  foreigners,  and 
we  have  often  experienced  the  bitter  fruits  of  it,  es- 
pecially in  times  of  war. 

4.  Still  another  kind  of  passports  is  used  in  this 
country,  and  should  be  noticed  under  this  head.  They 
are  passports  for  American  ships  or  vessels.  When 
they  are  about  to  sail  for  a foreign  port,  the  laws  of 
the  United  States  require  each  to  procure  one,  under  a 
penalty  or  fine  of  two  hundred  dollars  upon  the  mas- 
ter if  he  departs  from  the  United  States  for  a foreign 
country  (other  than  some  port  in  America),  without  it. 
The  passport  is  prepared  by  the  Secretary  of  State  and 
is  approved  by  the  President.  This  is  given  to  the 
master  by  the  collector  of  the  port  from  which  the 
vessel  sails,  and  is  one  of  the  ship’s  papers,  by  which 
her  nationality  is.  known,  and  her  protection  shown  to 
be  that  of  the  United  States. 

19 


288 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXXIX. 

Reports. 

1.  As  Congress  is  the  law-making  power  of  the  gov- 
ernment , and  legislates  for  every  department  thereof, 
assigning  such  business  to  each  as  it  deems  proper, 
giving  directions,  and  prescribing  the  duties  of  all  the 
government  officials,  agents,  commissioners  and  em- 
ployes, nothing  is  more  obvious  than  that  it  should  be 
kept  well  informed  and  advised  of  what  has  been  done 
in  each  department  and  bureau;  and  by  every  head,  or 
principal  officer  and  agent  of  the  government  wherever 
employed.  And  for  this  purpose  it  is  enacted  that  the 
Secretaries  of  State,  Treasury,  War,  Xavy,  Interior, 
and  Postmaster  General,  together  with  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  different  bureaus,  and  boards  attached 
to  these  departments,  shall  annually  report  to  Congress. 
Heads  of  departments  report  directly  to  Congress.  So 
do  many  of  the  commissioners  who  are  at  the  head  of 
bureaus.  Boards  report  to  the  heads  of  departments 
to  which  they  are  attached. 

2.  In  this  way  Congress  is  kept  advised  of  whatever 
is  done  in  every  department,  bureau,  or  board,  to  which 
any  of  the  public  business  is  entrusted.  These  reports 
not  only  furnish  the  law-making  power  with  such  in- 
formation as  it  needs,  but  serve  as  a check  to  any  offi- 
cial misconduct.  The  annual  reports  of  the  Secreta- 
ries of  the  Treasury,  War,  and  Xavy,  together  with 
that  of  the  Postmaster  General,  are  State  papers 
which  rank  in  importance  next  to  the  annual  message 


REPORTS. 


289 


of  the  President.  To  them  the  people  look  for  a de- 
tailed account  of  the  state  and  condition  of  those  great 
departments  over  which  these  Secretaries  preside,  and 
which  so  materially  affect  the  pecuniary  and  other 
great  interests  of  the  nation. 

3.  The  foregoing  remarks  upon  reports,  may  not  he 
considered  of  sufficient  importance  to  deserve  an  in- 
sertion here,  but  they  throw  some  light  upon  the 
movements  of  the  machinery  by  which  the  government 
is  operated,  and  show  how  officials  are  held  responsi- 
ble to  the  superior  power. 

In  this  connection  we  may  notice  another  kind  of 
reports,  which  come  from  another  source.  After  each 
Congress  has  convened  and  organized,  the  President 
of  the  Senate  and  the  Speaker  of  the  House  appoint 
what  are  denominated  the  standing  committees  of  each 
of  these  bodies. 

When  bills  are  presented  to  be  passed  into  laws,  or 
petitions  are  sent  in,  they  are  always  referred  to  the 
appropriate  committee,  which  examines  them  and  then 
reports  to  the  body  (of  the  Senate  or  House)  their  con- 
clusions upon  the  merits  or  demerits,  propriety  or  im- 
propriety, of  granting  the  petition,  or  of  passing  the 
bill  under  consideration. 

These  reports  generally  govern  the  action  of  Congress 
when  they  come  to  vote  upon  the  passage  of  the  law. 
But  that  is  not  always  the  case ; the  body  of  either 
House  may  think  differently  from  its  committee,  and 
act  contrary  to  its  recommendations. 


290 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXXX. 

Commissioners. 

1.  In  the  history  and  laws  of  the  United  States,  the 
word  “commissioner  ” occurs  so  frequently,  that  it  may 
add  something  to  the  utility  of  our  work  to  make  a 
few  remarks  about  them,  to  show  their  relations  to  the 
government,  when  acting  either  in  permanently  estab- 
lished official  positions,  or  as  temporary  agents. 

In  the  first  place,  they  act  as  heads  of  bureaus  in  the 
various  departments.  These  bureaus,  with  their  com- 
missioners at  their  heads,  are  permanent  sub-depart- 
ments and  officials  of  the  government,  established  and 
provided  for  by  law;  such  are  the  commissioners  of  the 
land  office,  patent  office,  pension  office,  &c. 

2.  In  the  second  place,  they  can  hardly  be  considered 
officers,  but  rather  temporary  or  special  agents.  In  the 
multifarious  duties  devolving  upon  Congress,  the  Presi- 
dent, and  all  the  departments,  it  not  unfrequently  hap- 
pens that  is  impracticable  for  them  to  do  certain  things 
necessary  to  he  done.  The  business  to  be  transacted 
may  he  at  a great  distance  from  the  capital,  even  in  a 
foreign  country.  In  these  cases  commissioners  are  ap- 
pointed to  do  such  business.  They  have  been  appoin- 
ted to  negotiate  a peace,  to  make  treaties  of  various 
kinds  between  us  and  other  powers,  and  to  negotiate 
with  the  Indians  for  the  purchase  of  their  lands.  The 
United  States  courts  appoint  them  to  take  hail,  or  to 
take  testimony  to  be  used  on  trials,  and  do  various 
other  things  necessary  in  trials  and  proceedings  before 
them. 


COMMISSIONERS. 


291 


Congress  frequently  appoints  commissioners  to  ob- 
tain information,  or  to  investigate  some  matter  on 
which  they  expect  to  legislate.  In  all  cases  they  must 
report  their  proceedings,  either  to  Congress,  to  the 
President,  or  to  the  head  of  the  department  under 
whose  instruction  they  act.  Permanent  commissioners 
report  once  a year,  or  oftener  if  required,  that  Congress 
may  know  the  condition  of  affairs  in  their  respective 
bureaus.  Special  commissioners,  after  they  have  per- 
formed the  work  assigned,  make  their  report;  after 
which  their  duties  cease,  and  their  commission  comes 
to  an  end. 

3.  The  foregoing  may  be  thought  too  simple  and  too 
well  understood  to  require  any  description.  This  is  so, 
as  it  regards  intelligent  adults;  but  it  should  be  borne 
in  mind  that  these  pages  are  written  with  special  re- 
ference to  the  youth  of  the  country. 

It  should  be  added  that  the  lowest  grade  of  diploma- 
tic agents,  who  represent  our  government  to  some  of 
the  most  inferior  powers,  are  called  commissioners. 
*We  are  thus  represented  at  the  present  time  in  the 
Republics  of  Hayti  and  Liberia. 

4.  By  recent  acts  of  Congress,  the  powers  of  com- 
missioners in  some  cases  have  been  enlarged.  They 
now  examine  persons  charged  with  crimes  against  the 
laws  of  the  United  States;  hold  them  to  bail,  discharge 
them,  or  commit  them  to  prison;  and  do  other  magis- 
terial acts,  preliminary  to  the  trial  of  the  accused. 
When  acting  in  such  cases,  they  are  clothed  with  some 
of  the  powers  of  a court. 


292 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXXXI. 

Religion. 

1.  The  people  of  the  United  States  glory  in  the  fact 
that  in  their  country  there  is  no  religion  established 
by  law,  as  in  England  and  several  other  countries. 
"Where  this  is  the  case,  no  other  than  the  one  estab- 
lished by  law  is  tolerated;  or  if  tolerated,  special  favors 
and  benefits  are  conferred  on  the  national  church,  at 
the  expense  of  all  others. 

We  enjoy  complete  religious  freedom,  and  it  is  hoped 
we  always  shall.  The  Constitution  guarantees  this,  in 
the  following  words:  “Congress  shall  make  no  law  re- 
specting an  establishment  of  religion,  or  prohibiting 
the  free  exercise  thereof.” 

In  another  place  it  says,  that  “no  religious  test  shall 
ever  he  required  as  a qualification  to  any  office  or  pub- 
lic trust,  under  the  United  States.” 

What  power  in  a few  words ! These  words  in  our 
Constitution  have  been,  and  will  he  of  inestimable 
value  to  our  country;  for  they  have  greatly  increased 
its  population  and  wealth.  This  feature  of  our  govern- 
ment has  caused  thousands  to  migrate  to  the  United 
States,  where  they  will  neither  he  persecuted,  nor 
taxed,  to  support  a church  in  which  they  do  not  believe. 
Everybody  is  left  to  worship  when  and  where  and  as 
he  pleases.  This  is  called  religious  liberty,  and  is  as 
it  ought  to  be.  True  Christianity  never  required  the 
support  of  the  State,  and  where  it  has  been  given,  it 
has  invariably  been  corrupted.  We  hope  the  day  is 
not  far  off  when  every  government  on  earth  will  fol- 
low our  example  in  this  respect. 


PROCLAMATIONS® 


293 


CHAPTER  LXXXII. 

Proclamations. 

1.  A Proclamation  is  an  official  notice  given  by  one 
high  in  authority,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  reliable 
and  authoritative  information  to  the  people  that  some- 
thing has  been  done,  or  will  soon  be  done,  which  is 
important  for  them  to  know,  that  they  may  act,  or  re- 
frain from  acting  according  to  the  information  con- 
tained in  the  proclamation.  These  proclamations  are 
made  known  to  the  country  through  the  most  exten- 
sive channels  of  information  that  can  be  used  for  con- 
veying intelligence  to  everybody  in  the  realm.  In  our 
day,  and  in  our  country,  the  newspapers  are  the  best 
means  that  can  be  used  for  this  purpose.  But  in  an- 
cient times,  and  before  the  art  of  printing  was  known, 
swift  riders  or  runners  were  dispatched  to  every  part 
of  the  kingdom  or  country  over  which  the  proclama- 
tion was  to  be  made  known.  These  messengers  car- 
ried it  with  them,  and  proclaimed  it  in  the  ears  of  all 
the  people. 

We  have  made  these  general  remarks  about  procla- 
mations for  the  purpose  of  introducing  the  following 
observations  upon  those  official  papers  so  often  issued 
by  the  President,  and  also  by  the  Governors  of  the  re- 
spective States.  These,  as  above  stated,  are  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  important  information  to  the  peo- 
ple. It  is  now  the  custom  of  the  Executive  to  desig- 
nate some  day  selected  by  him  as  a day  of  thanksgiving, 
recommending  the  day  to  be  observed  in  a religious 


294  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

manner,  in  acknowledgment  of  God’s  favor  to  ns  as  a 
nation.  This  is  made  known  to  the  people  by  a proc- 
lamation of  the  President.  A day  of  fasting  and  prayer 
is  designated  and  proclaimed  in  the  same  way.  Im- 
portant changes  in  the  commercial  affairs  between  us 
and  some  foreign  country  are  made  known  by  the 
same  method. 

2.  A memorable  proclamation  was  made  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  in  1862,  by  which  he  made  known  to  the 
country,  and  especially  to  the  Southern  States,  that  if 
they  continued  their  war  against  the  United  States 
for  one  hundred  days  after  its  issuance,  he  would  then, 
in  virtue  of  his  authority  as  commander-in-chief  of  the 
army  and  navy,  liberate  the  slaves  in  all  the  seceded 
States.  At  the  expiration  of  the  time,  which  was  on 
the  first  of  January,  1863,  he  issued  another  proclama- 
tion, in  and  by  which  he  did  emancipate  all  the  slaves 
in  every  State  which  had  warred  against  the  United 
States  government. 

The  blockading  of  our  ports  at  the  commencement 
of  the  civil  war,  and  the  imposition  of  an  embargo  upon 
our  shipping,  previous  to  the  last  war  with  England, 
were  both  subjects  which  brought  out  proclamations 
from  the  President  wTho  then  filled  the  Executive 
chair. 

4.  The  above  example  shows  the  character  of  cases 
which  cause  proclamations  to  be  issued.  In  some  in- 
stances they  have  the  authority  of  law  ; in  others  they 
are  merely  recommendations  ; and  in  others  only  com- 
municate important  intelligence  in  regard  to  our  pub- 
lic affairs  at  home  or  abroad. 


TREASON. 


295 


CHAPTER  LXXXIII. 

Treason. 

1.  We  do  not  propose  in  this  work  to  treat  of  crimes 
generally.  But  treason,  which  is  a great  crime,  and 
which  aims  at  the  existence  or  at  the  peace  of  the  gov- 
ernment, may  with  propriety  be  briefly  noticed  in  a 
work  of  this  kind. 

The  Constitution  itself  defines  treason  in  these  words 
(see  article  3,  section  3) : “ Treason  against  the  United 
States  shall  consist  only  in  levying  war  against  them, 
or  in  adhering  to  their  enemies,  giving  them  aid  and 
comfort.”  Then  an  act  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
30th  of  April,  1790,  approved  and  signed  by  Washing- 
ton, again  defines  in  nearly  the  same  words,  and  makes 
the  penalty  therefor  to  be  death  by  hanging. 

2.  By  another  act  passed  17th  July,  1862,  it  was 
made  discretionary  with  the  court  trying  the  case  to 
put  the  offender  to  death,  or  to  imprison  him  for  not 
less  than  five  years,  and  to  fine  him  for  a sum  not 
less  than  ten  thousand  dollars.  The  penalty  for  this 
crime,  even  in  its  mildest  form  is  very  severe;  thus  show- 
ing how  atrocious  this  offense  is  considered. 

3.  None  but  a person  owing  allegiance  to  the  United 
States  can  commit  treason  against  them.  The  same 
acts  which  would  be  treason  in  a citizen  would  not  be 
treason  if  perpetrated  by  a foreigner. 

“ Misprision  of  treason”  is  the  concealment  of  it  by 
a person  who  knows  it  has  been  committed.  This 


296  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

also  is  a grave  offense,  and  is  punishable  by  a seven 
years’  imprisonment,  and  a fine  not  exceeding  one 
thousand  dollars. 

4.  Any  person  tried  for  treason,  must  be  indicted 
by  a grand  jury ; and  then  tried  by  a petit  jury  in  the 
Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States  within  three  years 
after  the  crime  has  been  committed;  otherwise  it  is 
barred  by  limitation — or,  in  other  words,  outlawed. 


IMPEACHMENT. 


297 


CHAPTER  LXXXIV. 

Impeachment. 

1.  In  the  second  article,  section  four,  of  the  Consti- 
tution, these  words  are  found : “ The  President,  Vice- 
President,  and  all  civil  officers  of  the  United  States, 
shall  be  removed  from  office  on  impeachment  for,  and 
conviction  of  treason,  bribery,  or  other  high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors.” 

2.  Impeachment  is  a procedure  against  office  holders 
only,  for  the  purpose  of  removing  them  from  office. 
It  inflicts  no  other  punishment ; but  the  guilty  party 
may  afterwards  be  prosecuted  for  his  crime  in  a court 
of  law,  and  punished  in  such  a manner  as  the  law 
directs. 

3.  The  Constitution  gives  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives the  sole  power  of  impeachment.  Its  action, 
however,  is  not  final.  Its  proceeding  in  cases  of  im- 
peachment are  analagous  to  an  indictment  by  a grand 

jury*  _ 

It  simply  charges  that  the  official  has  committed  a 
crime  for  which  he  should  be  tried  and  removed  from 
office  if  found  guilty. 

4.  The  Senate  alone  has  the  power  to  try  the  ac- 
cused party.  When  trying  a case  of  impeachment  it 
acts  as  a court,  and  from  its  decision  there  is  no  ap- 
peal. The  President  cannot  pardon  a criminal  wt  o 
has  been  impeached.  When  the  President  of  the 
United  States  is  tried,  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  presides,  but  in  no  other  case.  No  per- 
son can  be  convicted  in  a trial  of  impeachment,  unless 
two-thirds  of  the  Senate  concur  in  finding  the  ac- 
cused guilty  of  the  alleged  offence. 


298 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXXXV. 

Missouri  Compromise. 

1.  We  should  not  devote  a chapter  to  this  subject 
any  more  than  we  should  to  hundreds  of  other  acts  of 
Congress  which  need  not  be  noticed  in  a work  of  this 
kind,  but  for  the  fact  that  few  if  any  acts  passed  by 
that  body  have  caused  so  many  comments  or  so  much 
political  discussion  as  this.  It  may  therefore  be  both 
interesting  and  useful  to  state  what  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise was,  what  its  objects  were,  and  how  it  came  to 
be  repealed. 

2.  The  act  containing  what  has  long  been  denomi- 
nated the  Missouri  Compromise  was  passed  on  the  6th 
day  of  March,  1820.  The  object  of  the  act  was  the 
admission  of  the  State  of  Missouri  into  the  Union. 
The  Compromise  inserted  in  one  of  its  sections  was 
proposed  by  Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  and  was  de- 
signed to  reconcile  a high  dispute  between  the  Mem- 
bers of  Congress  on  the  question,  “ Shall  Missouri  be 
admitted  as  a free  or  a slave  State?” 

3.  It  was  admitted  as  a slave  State,  but  upon  the 
condition  (proviso)  that  in  none  of  the  Territory  of  the 
United  States  lying  north  of  the  line  of  36  degrees  and 
30  minutes,  north  latitude,  should  slavery  ever  be  al- 
lowed. This  proviso  was  denominated  a Compromise ; 
because  it  was  designed  to  settle  the  vexed  question 
as  to  how  far  northward  slavery  should  be  allowed  to 
extend. 


MISSOURI  COMPROMISE. 


299 


4-  It  was  called  the  “ Missouri  Compromise,”  simply 
because  it  was  incorporated  in  the  act  of  Congress 
which  admitted  that  State  into  the  Union.  It  remained 
in  existence  until  the  year  1854,  thirty-four  years.  Dur- 
ing all  that  period  it  was  looked  upon  as  a permanent 
settlement  of  the  boundary  line  between  free  and  slave 
territory. 

The  repeal  of  this  act  was  strongly  opposed  by  those 
who  objected  to  the  extension  of  slavery.  It  caused  a 
great  deal  of  political  excitement,  and  was  immediately 
followed  by  the  troubles  in  Kansas,  where  the  contest 
between  those  who  wanted  the  State  to  come  in  free, 
and  those  who  wanted  it  to  be  a slave  State,  ran  so 
high  as  to  cause  not  only  great  political  commotion, 
but  even  bloodshed  and  civil  war  between  the  contes- 
tants in  that  then  new  Territory.  Kansas  remained  a 
Territory  until  January,  1861,  when  it  was  admitted  as 
a State. 

5.  As  stated  in  the  commencement  of  this  article, 
no  act  of  Congress  ever  caused  so  much  political  discus- 
sion as  this.  It  was  passed  to  quiet  a contest  that 
shook  the  whole  country ; and  when  it  was  repealed, 
it  created  another  of  still  greater  magnitude.  The 
Kansas  imbroglio  followed  hard  after ; and  the  late 
disastrous  civil  war  came  soon  enough  to  lead  many 
wise  men  into  the  opinion  that  it  had  much  to  do  in 
bringing  on  that  terrible  calamity. 


300 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXXXYI. 

Mason  and  Dixon’s  Line. 

1.  Should  any  reader  say  that  this  is  not  pertinent  to 
the  subject  treated  of  in  this  work,  he  would  not  be 
far  out  of  the  way  ; for,  strictly  speaking,  it  has  noth- 
ing to  do  with  it.  But  the  phrase  “ Mason  and  Dix- 
on’s line,”  has  been  used  in  connection  with  the  polit- 
ical sayings  and  doings  of  the  country  so  often  that  it 
would  be  very  natural  for  any  one  to  ask,  “ What  is 
it?”  and  u What  is  meant  by  it?”  To  answer  the 
question,  we  reply  as  follows:  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  is 
not  a myth  nor  an  imaginary  line,  with  no  particular 
location.  It  was  a real  line,  and  a boundary  line,  lo- 
cated between  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania ; between 
which  two  colonies  there  had  been  much  contention 
and  many  hostile  acts,  amounting  at  times  almost  to  a 
civil  war.  This  arose  from  a dispute  respecting  the 
boundary  lines  between  them.  Maryland  had  been 
granted  to  Lord  Baltimore,  and  Pennsylvania  to  Wil- 
liam Penn. 

2.  This  was  long  before  the  Revolutionary  war.  But 
the  boundary  line  was  not  accurately  defined.  These 
disputes  caused  so  much  trouble  between  the  contend- 
ing parties,  that  commissioners  were  appointed  in 
England  to  make  an  accurate  survey,  and  to  determine, 
from  the  language  used  in  the  charters  or  grants,  as 
they  were  called  in  that  day,  the  exact  boundary  line 
between  them.  Messrs.  Mason  and  Dixon  were  selec- 
ted in  England  to  run  this  line ; which  they  did. 
These  men  were  eminent  mathematicians  and  astron- 
omers, and  had  the  confidence  of  all  parties.  They 
performed  their  work  so  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 


ULYSSES  SIMPSON  GRANT. 

EIGHTEENTH  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


TIE  wmi 
of  m ■ 

OTEftsmf  m ikunna 


MASON  AND  DIXON’S  LINE. 


301 


parties  that  the  line  drawn  remains  to  this  day.  Thus 
was  ended  a long  continued  quarrel  of  more  than  sev- 
enty years’  standing. 

3.  But  these  facts  did  not  give  this  line  its  great  no- 
toriety. It  arose  from  the  circumstance  that  Pennsyl- 
vania and  all  the  States  north  of  it  became  free  States, 
while  Maryland  and  all  the  States  south  of  it  remained 
slave  States.  Mason  and  Dixon’s  line,  without  any  in- 
tention of  making  it  such,  became  the  boundary  between 
the  free  and  slave  States. 

The  line  run  by  these  men  went  no  further  west 
than  those  States  extended,  and  was  a straight  line 
running  east  and  west.  But  as  new  States  were  created 
and  added  to  the  original  thirteen,  some  utterly  refused 
to  admit  slavery,  while  others  did  admit  it.  Ohio,  Illi- 
nois and  Indiana,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Ohio  river, 
refused  to  admit,  while  Kentucky  eagerly  embraced  it. 
Hence  the  Ohio  river  became  a sort  of  Mason  and 
Dixon’s  line;  that  is,  it  became  the  line  so  far  as  these 
States  were  concerned.  The  phrase  by  this  time  came 
to  mean  the  boundary  line  between  slavery  and  freedom, 
instead  of  the  line  run  by  Mason  and  Dixon  between 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  Thus,  like  many  other 
terms  in  our  language,  it  became  far  more  comprehen- 
sive in  its  significance  than  in  the  original  meaning. 
In  the  latter  sense,  Mason  and  Dixon’s  line  ran  where*- 
ever  the  boundary  lines  ran  between  free  and  slave 
States,  whether  east  and  west,  north  and  south,  or  any 
other  points  of  the  compass.  But  the  late  civil  war 
sponged  out  this  famous  line.  It  has  no  existence 
now  excepting  that  part  of  it  which  originally  and  at 
present  forms  the  boundary  between  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland. 


302 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  LXXXVH. 

Political  Divisions. 

1.  When  we  wish  to  understand  the  geography  of 
our  country,  we  take  a map  and  notice  its  boundaries, 
its  mountains,  lakes,  rivers,  towns,  &c. 

And  if  we  wish  to  understand  its  government  we 
must  notice  how  it  is  divided  for  political  purposes; 
first,  into  States,  and  then  into  a variety  of  districts. 
We  shall  find  Congressional  districts,  judicial  districts, 
collection  districts,  land  districts,  and  light-house  dis- 
tricts. All  these  have  their  uses,  and  are  parts  of  the 
machinery  by  which  the  government  is  operated.  If 
it  were  not  for  the  necessity  there  is  of  frequently 
changing  the  boundaries,  numbers  and  localities  of 
these  districts,  it  would  be  useful  and  interesting  if  the 
United  States  were  mapped  out  so  as  to  show  all  these 
political  divisions  at  a glance,  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  States  and  counties  are  now  shown. 

2.  The  first  great  division  is  into  States.  These 
have  particular  reference  to  the  constitution  of  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives.  Each  State  is 
entitled  to  two  Senators,  regardless  of  its  size  or  pop- 
ulation ; and  to  as  many  Representatives  as  its  popu- 
lation will  admit.  Each  State  is  really  a Senatorial 
district  in  its  relations  to  the  general  government;  and 
as  Congressmen  are  elected  by  single  districts,  each 
State  is  sub-divided  into  as  many  Congressional  dis- 
tricts as  it  has  Representatives  in  the  lower  House. 
But  when  a State  has  only  one  Member  of  Congress, 


POLITICAL  DIVISIONS. 


303 


as  is  the  case  with  several,  the  whole  State  is  com- 
prised in  one  Congressional  district. . 

JUDICIAL  DISTRICTS. 

3.  We  now  come  to  another  sort  of  districts,  made 
for  an  entirely  different  purpose.  For  the  conven- 
ience of  the  people  the  United  States  courts  are  held 
in  every  State,  and  at  different  places  in  the  same 
State.  For  this  purpose  the  whole  country  is  first  di- 
vided into  judicial  circuits.  Several  States — 3,  4,  or  5 
— are  embraced  in  one  circuit.  In  all  these  States  and 
at  different  places  in  them,  a Circuit  Court  is  held. 

4.  Then  comes  a lower  grade  of  courts,  called  the 
United  States  District  Court.  These  also  are  held  at 
different  times  and  places  in  each  State ; and  for  this 
purpose  the  whole  country  is  divided  into  judicial  dis- 
tricts, each  State  forming  at  least  one,  but  some  of  the 
larger  ones,  two  or  three.  Thus  much  for  divisions 
for  judicial  purposes. 

’ COLLECTION  DISTRICTS. 

5.  Another  class  of  districts  has  been  formed,  for 
the  purpose  of  collecting  the  duties  on  imported 
goods.  These  are  called  44  collection  districts/'  They 
extend  along,  and  embrace  the  whole  sea  coast  and  the 
shores  of  navigable  lakes  and  rivers.  In  a few  in- 
stances they  are  located  inland,  at  points  where  goods 
may  be  brought  into  the  United  States  by  land.  Each 
collection  district  has  a port  of  entry,  and  very  often 
several  ports  of  delivery ; also  a collector  of  customs, 
and  generally  a custom  house. 

6.  Another  class  of  collection  districts  was  formed 

20 


804  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

during  the  late  civil  war.  They  grew  out  of  the  war, 
and  were  established  for  the  collection  of  the  tax 
termed  the  “internal  revenue,”  which  had  to  be  levied 
to  pay  the  war  expenses.  These  districts  differ  en- 
tirely, both  in  their  objects  and  in  the  Territory  em- 
braced within  them,  from  those  established  for  the  pur- 
pose of  collecting  duties  on  imports,  and  correspond 
as  far  as  practicable  with  the  Congressional  districts  in 
each  State. 

LAND  DISTRICTS. 

7.  Land  districts  may  also  be  noticed  among  these 
divisions.  In  every  State  and  Territory  where  there 
are  public  lands  for  sale,  after  they  are  surveyed  and 
mapped,  they  are  divided  into  districts — two,  three  or 
four,  in  each  State  and  Territory — as  convenience  and 
economy  may  dictate.  In  each  district  a land  office 
is  established  for  the  sale  of  the  lands  in  said  district. 

LIGHT  HOUSE  DISTRICTS. 

8.  Again,  the  whole  of  our  sea  coasts,  both  on  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans,  together  with  the  shores 
of  the  navigable  lakes  and  rivers,  are  divided  into 
twelve  light  house  districts  (or  their  number  must  not 
exceed  that),  for  the  purpose  of  building,  repairing,  il- 
luminating and  superintending  the  light  houses  on  all 
the  coasts  and  shores  wherever  located.  These  are  the 
principal  divisions  we  have  to  notice.  It  is  important 
to  have  a knowledge  of  them,  for  with  such  knowl- 
edge we  can  better  understand  how  government  affairs 
are  conducted. 


DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 


305 


CHAPTER  LXXXVIII. 

District  of  Columbia. 

1.  The  District  of  Columbia,  in  regard  to  its  size, 
population,  or  political  power,  is  somewhat  insignificant. 
It  is  not  a State,  but  a very  small  Territory  only  ten 
miles  square,  originally  cut  out  of  the  States  of  Mary- 
land and  Virginia  and  ceded  to  the  United  States  as  a 
site  for  the  capitol.  Here  the  capitol  or  house  in  which 
Congress  meets  is  located,  together  with  the  Presiden- 
tial mansion,  and  other  public  buildings  occupied  by 
the  government.  Its  population  has  grown  to  the 
present  size,  about  131,706,  since  the  year  1800,  when 
it  became  the  capital  of  the  nation,  and  when  Congress 
first  assembled  here;  its  former  sessions  having  been 
held  at  Hew  York  and  Philadelphia. 

2.  The  people  who  live  here  held  an  anomalous 
position  in  the  Government,  until  February  21st.,  1871, 
for  up  to  that  time  this  District  was  neither  a State  nor 
Territory,  and  the  people  had  only  such  rights  as  Con- 
gress granted  them;  they  had  no  Representative  in 
Congress,  nor  the  right  to  vote  for  President  or  Vice 
President.  But  by  the  above  named  act,  this  w^as 
changed,  and  the  District  was  made  a Territory,  having 
a Territorial  Legislature,  and  the  right  to  be  represen- 
ted by  one  member  in  the  House  of  Representatives. 
This  makes  their  political  condition  quite  different  from 
what  it  ever  was  before,  when  they  only  had  a few  rights 
which  they  exercised  by  virtue  of  a Charter  granted 
them  by  Congress. 


306  OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

3.  Besides  the  courts  of  justice  of  the  peace,  there 
are  four  high  courts,  with  their  judges,  and  other  law 
officers  ; first,  a Circuit  Court;  second,. a District  Court ; 
third,  an  Orphan’s  Court,  and  fourth,  a Criminal  Court; 
all  these  must  be  recognized  as  United  States  courts,  be- 
cause they  were  established  by  the  laws  of  Congress, 
and  because  their  judges  are  all  appointed  by  the  Pres- 
ident and  Senate,  and  are  paid  out  of  the  United  States 
Treasury. 

In  saying  that  the  District  is  ten  miles  square,  and 
that  it  was  ceded  to  the  United  States  by  Virginia  and 
Maryland,  we  state  what  was  the  case  up  to  1846,  when 
Congress  re-ceded  to  the  State  of  Virginia  that  part  of 
it  which  formerly  belonged  to  her.  This  part  lies  west 
of  the  Potomac  river,  and  is  of  no  use  to  the  United 
States;  as  the  capitol,  with  all  the  other  public  build- 
ings, and,  indeed,  the  whole  city  of  Washington,  stands 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  and  in  the  part  formerly 
belonging  to  Maryland. 

The  towns  of  Alexandria  and  Georgetown  were  both 
included  in  the  District ; but  in  1846,  Alexandria, 
which  stands  on  the  west  side  of  the  Potomac,  was 
restored  to  Virginia. 

The  capitol  is  one  of  the  finest  buildings  in  the 
world.  It  has  been  much  enlarged,  and  has  cost  nearly 
$5,000,000. 


THE  STATES. 


307 


CHAPTER  LXXXIX. 

States. 

1.  As  has  been  said  in  another  place,  people  who 
live  in  the  United  States,  live  under  two  separate  and 
distinct  governments ; first,  that  of  the  U nited  States,  and 
second,  that  of  the  particular  State  in  which  they  reside. 
This  at  first  thought,  would  seem  to  create  confusion,  if 
not  a conflict  of  authority,  and  to  place  the  citizen  in 
doubt  as  to  what  law  he  should  obey  when  in  his  own 
mind  there  seems  to  be  an  antagonism  between  the 
laws  of  the  two  governments.  This  is  easily  overcome, 
however,  for  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
which  is  paramount  to  all  other  law,  regulates  this  by 
its  own  provisions.  Neither  Congress,  nor  the  legisla- 
ture of  any  State  can  make  any  law  contrary  to  it;  and 
if  either  of  these  legislative  bodies  should  do  so,  there 
is  a power  which  has  the  authority  to  set  any  such  law 
aside  ; and  that  is,  the  United  States  Supreme  Court. 
Its  decision  in  regard  to  any  question  which  may  arise 
as  to  the  rightful  authority  of  Congress,  or  any  State 
legislature,  is  final ; there  being  no  appeals  from  its  de- 
cisions. 

This  court  is  the  regulating  power  and  the  final  re- 
sort. To  use  a mechanical  figure,  it  keeps  all  the 
small  wheels  (the  State  governments),  revolving  with- 
in one  great  wheel  (the  general  government),  with  but 
little  friction,  and  without  any  serious  collisions. 

2.  In  the  preceding  pages  we  have  treated  only  of 


308  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

the  United  States  government,  without  any  intention 
of  explaining  the  State  governments.  We  shall  not  now 
depart  from  that  plan,  hut  shall  mention  them  only  in 
general  terms,  as  parts  of  the  great  whole,  to  show 
what  political  power  they  possess,  what  they  relin- 
quished to  the  general  government,  to  what  extent 
they  are  sovereign  powers,  and  how  they  fall  short  of 
being  complete  sovereignties. 

3.  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  expressly 
declares  that  Congress  shall  have  and  exercise  certain 
powers,  and  also  that  no  State  shall  possess  or  exercise 
them. 

Congress  has  the  exclusive  power  to  lay  duties  on 
imported  goods,  to  regulate  commerce  with  foreign 
nations  and  with  Indian  tribes;  to  pass  naturalization 
laws,  to  coin  money,  to  establish  post  offices  and  post 
roads;  to  grant  patents  and  copyrights;  to  declare  war, 
and  to  do  many  other  things  wdiich  the  States  are  pro- 
hibited from  doing,  for  if  invested  with  such  powers 
there  would  be  an  immediate  conflict  of  laws,  and  un- 
avoidable collision  between  the  United  States  and  the 
State  governments. 

4.  Now,  when  the  several  original  States  adopted 
the  Constitution,  they  agreed  to  be  governed  by  its 
provisions,  and  therefore  conceded  to  Congress  all  the 
rights  and  powers  therein  specified;  thus  relinquishing 
all  authority  to  exercise  them  themselves.  And  as  the 
new  States  came  into  the  Union,  they  did  the  same 
thing.  Hence  all  the  States  voluntarily  surrendered  a 
part  of  the  powers  which  belong  to  a sovereign  State. 
Sovereignty  implies  full  power  to  do  any  thing  without 


THE  STATES. 


309 


the  control  of  another.  The  United  States  government 
is  a complete  sovereignty.  The  States  are  not,  because 
they  agreed,  for  the  general  good  of  all,  to  surrender 
certain  powers  to  the  general  government. 

5.  In  everything  except  these  surrendered  rights  or 
powers,  the  States  are  sovereign.  In  all  matters  per- 
taining to  their  own  domestic  affairs,  they  enjoy  full 
power  to  enact  such  kws  as  they  please,  taking  care 
that  no  law,  however,  shall  conflict  with  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States,  or  with  any  law  which  Con- 
gress has  the  exclusive  right  to  enact. 

6.  The  States  are  the  first,  most  important,  and  most 
permanent  of  all  the  political  divisions  of  the  country. 
They  are  now,  in  size,  location,  and  territorial  limits, 
just  what  they  were  when  first  formed;  with  one  ex- 
ception, and  that  is  Virginia.  When  that  State  sece- 
ded with  most  of  the  other  Southern  States,  before  the 
late  civil  war,  the  people  in  that  part  of  the  State  lying 
west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains  (nearly  one  half  of 
it,)  refused  to  leave  the  old  Union,  seceded  from  the 
old  State  and  organized  themselves  into  a new  one, 
styling  it  West  Virginia.  This  they  could  not  do,  how- 
ever, without  the  consent  of  Congress;  but  this  was 
readily  given,  the  division  was  consummated  and  a new 
State  was  carved  out  of  an  old  one.  This  is  the  first, 
and  thus  far,  the  only  instance  in  which  this  has  been 
done. 

In  the  following  chapter  we  give  the  several  States 
in  alphabetical  order,  making  it  easy  to  turn  to  them, 
and  to  find  any  desired  information  contained  in  the 
brief  summary  of  facts  relating  to  each. 


310 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XC. 

Individual  States. 


ALABAMA. 


Alabama,  (so  called  from  the  Indian  name  of  the 
principal  river,  which  means  “ here-we-rest,”)  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union  of  States,  December  14,  1819, 
and  made  the  twenty-second  State. 

It  has  an  area  of  50,722  square  miles,  equal  to  32,- 
462,080  acres,  and  had  a population  in  1870  of  996,988. 
She  has  six  Representatives  in  Congress. 

It  forms  a part  of  the  fifth  judicial  circuit,  and  is  di- 
vided into  three  judicial  districts,  viz. : Northern,  Mid- 
dle and  Southern  districts  of  Alabama. 

It  has  one  port  of  entry,  (Mobile,)  and  two  ports  of 
delivery,  viz.  : Tuscumbia  and  Selma. 

The  capital  of  the  State  is  Montgomery. 

The  State  election  is  held  on  the  Tuesday  after  the 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


311 


first  Monday  in  November.  The  Legislature  meets  on 
the  third  Monday  in  November. 

The  enacting  clause  of  its  laws  is  as  follows  : “Be  it 
enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  State  of  Alabama,  in  General  Assembly  con- 


vened. ” 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Under  this  caption,  after  the  general  remarks  upon 
each  State,  we  shall  give  the  names  of  all  the  men  who 
have  represented  that  State  in  the  United  States  Sen- 
ate, from  the  commencement  of  the  government  (1789) 
down  to  the  present  year  (1871),  in  chronological  order, 
together  with  their  terms  of  service.  This  affords  a 
convenient  means  of  reference  to  the  prominent  states 
men  in  each  State,  in  days  gone  by. 

Those  from  Alabama  were — 


William  R.  King,  from 

John  W.  "Walker,  “ 

Henry  Chambers,  “ 

Israel  Pickens,  “ 

the  same  year  by — 

John  McKinley,  “ 

Gabriel  Moore,  •“ 

Clement  C.  Clay,  “ 

Arthur  P.  Bagby,  “ 

Dixon  H.  Lewis,  “ 

Benjamin  Fitzpatrick,  “ 

Jeremiah  Clemens,  “ 

Clement  C.  Clay,  Jr.,  “ 

Willard  Warner,  “ 

George  E.  Spencer,  “ 

George  Goldthwaite,  “ 


/ 1819  to  1844. 

\ 1846  “ 1852. 

1819  “ 1822. 

1825  “ 1826. 

1826.  Superseded 

/ 1826  “ 1831. 

\ 1837  “ 1841. 

1831  “ 1837. 

1837  “ 1841. 

1841  “ 1849. 

1844  “ 1847. 

1852  “ 1861. 

1849  “ 1853. 

1853  “ 1861. 

1868  “ 1871. 

1868  “ 1873. 

1871  u 1877. 


312 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


ARKANSAS. 


Arkansas  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  June  15, 
1836,  (Michigan  admitted  the  same  day,)  making  the 
. twenty-sixth  State. 

She  has  an  area  of  52,198  square  miles,  equal  to 
33,406,720  acres. 

Her  population  in  1870  was  483,179.  She  has  three 
Representatives  in  Congress. 

Arkansas  lies  in  the  8th  judicial  circuit,  and  forms 
two  districts,  Eastern  and  "Western. 

She  has  no  ports  of  entry  or  delivery. 

This  State  was  a part  of  the  Louisiana  purchase, 
made  of  France  in  1803. 

The  capital  of  the  State  is  Little  Rock. 

She  holds  her  State  election  on  the  first  Monday  in 
November. 

The  Legislature  meets  on  the  first  Monday  in  January, 
but  only  once  in  two  years. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is:  “Be  it  enacted 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Arkansas.” 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


818 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


William  S.  Fulton, 
Ambrose  H.  Sevier, 
Chester  Ashley, 
William  K.  Sebastian, 
Solon  Borland, 

Robert  W.  Johnson, 
Charles  B.  Mitchell, 
Alexander  McDonald, 
Benjamin  F.  Rice, 
Poweil  Clayton, 


from  1836  to  1844. 
“ 1836  “ 1848. 
“ 1844  “ 1847. 
“ 1848  “ 1861. 
“ 1848  “ 1853. 
“ 1853  “ 1861. 
“ 1861  “ 1861. 
“ 1868  “ 1871. 
“ 1868  “ 1873. 
“ 1871  “ 1877. 


CALIFORNIA. 


California  was  admitted  in  1850,  making  the  thirty- 
first  State.  It  has  an  area  of  188,982  square  miles,  equal 
to  120,948,480  acres.  The  population  in  1870  was  560,- 
285.  This  State  has  three  Representatives  in  Congress. 

By  act  of  1866,  this  State,  with  Oregon  and  Nevada, 
constitutes  the  ninth  judicial  circuit,  and  forms  two  ju- 
dicial districts.  California  has  seven  ports  of  entry, 


S14 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


viz.:  San  Francisco,  Monterey,  San  Diego,  Sacra- 
mento, Sonoma,  San  Joaquin  and  San  Pedro ; also,  one 
port  of  delivery,  Santa  Barbara.  This  State,  as  seen 
by  its  area,  is  very  large,  and  will  probably  in  some 
future  day  be  divided  into  two.  California  was  ob- 
tained from  Mexico  by  treaty,  in  1848. 

The  capital  is  Sacramento.  She  holds  her  State  elec- 
tion on  the  first  Tuesday  in  September.  Her  Legislature 
meets  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  but  meets  only 
once  in  two  years. 

The  enacting  clause  of  her  laws  is : “ The  people  of 
the  State  of  California,  represented  in  Senate  and  As- 
sembly, do  enact  as  follows.” 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


John  C.  Fremont, 
William  M.  Gwin, 
John  B.  Weller, 
H.  P.  Haun, 


from  1850  to  1851. 
“ 1850  « 1861. 
“ 1851  “ 1857. 
“ 1859  “ 1862. 
“ 1856  “ 1859. 
“ 1860  “ 1866. 
“ 1863  “ 1869. 
« 1867  “ 1873. 
“ 1861  “ 1867. 
“ 1869  « 1875. 


David  C.  Broderick. 


Milton  S.  Latham, 
John  Conness, 


Cornelius  Cole, 


J.  A.  McDougall, 
Eugene  Casserly, 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


315 


CONNECTICUT. 


Connecticut  is  one  of  the  original  thirteen  States. 
Her  area  is  only  4,674  square  miles,  equal  to  2,991,- 
360  acres.  The  population  in  1870  was  537,418.  She 
has  four  Representatives  in  Congress. 

Connecticut  is  part  of  the  second  judicial  circuit, 
and  forms  one  judicial  district.  She  has  five  collec- 
tion districts,  and  consequently  five  ports  of  entry — 
New  London,  New  Haven,  Fairfield,  Middletown  and 
Stonington  ; also  twenty-two  ports  of  delivery. 

This  State  has  two  capitals,  Hartford  and  New  Ha- 
ven, and  holds  her  State  election  on  the  first  Monday 
in  April.  The  Legislature  meets  on  the  first  Wednes- 
day in  May. 

The  enacting  clause  of  her  laws  is:  “Be  it  enacted 
by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  in  General 
Assembly  convened.” 


316  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Oliver  Ellsworth, 
William  S.  Johnson, 
Roger  Sherman, 

S.  M.  Michell, 
Jonathan  Trumbull, 
Uriah  Tracey, 

J.  Hillhouse, 

C.  Goodrich, 

S.  W.  Dana, 

David  Doggett, 
James  Lanman, 

E.  Boardman, 

H.  W.  Edwards, 
Calvin  Willey, 
Samuel  A.  Foot, 

G.  Tomlinson, 
Nathan  Smith, 

John  M.  Niles, 

Perry  Smith, 
Thaddeus  Betts, 

J.  W.  Huntington, 
R.  S.  Baldwin, 
Truman  Smith, 

Isaac  Toucey, 
Francis  Gillette, 

L.  S.  Foster, 

James  Dixon, 

Orris  S.  Ferry, 

W.  A.  Buckingham, 


from 

1789  to  1796. 

1789  “ 1791. 

U 

1791  « 1793. 

u 

1793  « 1795. 

u 

1795  « 1796. 

u 

1796  « 1807. 

u 

1796  “ 1810. 

a 

1807  « 1813. 

a 

1810  « 1821. 

a 

1813  “ 1819. 

a 

1819  « 1825. 

u 

1821  “ 1823. 

t. 

1823  « 1827. 

u 

1825  “ 1831. 

u 

1827  “ 1833. 

u 

1831  “ 1837. 

u 

1833  « 1835. 

u 

J 1835  “ 1839. 

\ 1843  « 1849. 

u 

1837  “ 1843. 

u 

1839  « 1840. 

u 

1840  « 1847. 

u 

1847  « 1851. 

u 

1849  « 1855. 

u 

1852  « 1857. 

u 

1854  “ 1856. 

u 

1855  « 1867. 

u 

1857  « 1869. 

u 

1867  « 1873. 

u 

1869  “ 1875. 

INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


317 


DELAWARE. 


Delaware  is  one  of  the  original  thirteen  States,  and 
has  an  area  of  2,120  square  miles,  equal  to  1,356,800 
acres.  Population  in  1870, 125,015. 

It  has  one  Representative  in  Congress ; forms  part 
of  the  third  judicial  circuit,  (act  of  1862),  constitutes 
one  judicial  district;  has  one  port  of  entry,  Wilming- 
ton; and  three  ports  of  delivery,  New  Castle,  Port 
Penn,  and  Delaware  City. 

The  population  of  this  State  has  never  entitled  it  to 
more  than  one  Member  of  Congress. 

The  capital  is  Dover.  The  elections  are  held  in 
August.  The  Legislature  meets  on  the  first  Tuesday 
in  January,  and  meets  only  once  in  two  years. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is:  “Be  it  enacted 
by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
State  of  Delaware,  in  General  Assembly  met.” 


318 


OUTLINES  OF.  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT, 


George  Read, 

R.  Bassett, 

John  Yining, 
Kensey  Johns, 
Henry  Latimer, 
Joshua  Clayton, 

W.  H.  "Wells, 

Samuel  White, 

J.  A.  Bayard, 

O.  Horsey, 

N.  Yan  Dyke, 

C.  A.  Rodney, 

T.  Clayton, 

D.  Rodney, 

H.  Ridgely, 

L.  McLane, 

J.  M.  Clayton, 

A.  Naudain, 

R.  II.  Bayard, 

P.  Spruance, 

John  Wales, 

J.  A.  Bayard, 

M.  W.  Bates, 

J.  P.  Comeygs, 

W.  Saulsbury, 

G.  R.  Riddle, 

J.  A.  Bayard, 
-Thomas  F.  Bayard, 
Eli  Saulsbury, 


1789  to  1793. 
1789  “ 1793. 

1793  “ 1798. 

1794  “ 1795. 

1795  “ 1801. 
1798  “ 1799. 

/ 1799  “ 1804. 
\ 1813  “ 1817. 
1801  “ 1810. 
1804  “ 1813. 
1810  “ 1821. 
1817  “ 1826. 
1822  “ 1823. 
4£  f 1824  “ 1827. 

X 1837  « 1847. 

“ 1826  “ 1827. 

“ 1827  “ 1829. 

“ 1827  “ 1829. 

w j"  1829  “ 1837. 

1 1845  “ 1849. 

“ 1830  “ 1836. 

“ 1836  “ 1845. 

« 1847  “ 1853. 

« 1849  “1851. 

“ 1851  “ 1864. 

« 1857  “ 1859. 

“ 1856  “ 1857. 

« 1859  “ 1871. 

1864  “ 1867. 
“ 1867  “ 1869. 

« 1869  “ 1875. 

« 1871  “ 1877. 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 

from 

U 

a 
u 
a 
u 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


319 


FLORIDA. 


Florida  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  March  3,  1845  ; 
making  the  twenty-seventh  State.  This  State  has  an 
area  of  59,268  square  miles,  equal  to  37,931,520  acres. 
The  population  in  1870  amounted  to  187,756.  She  has 
one  Representative  in  Congress. 

Florida  lies  in  the  5th  judicial  circuit,  and  forms  two 
judicial  districts;  and  has  seven  ports  of  entry — St. 
Augustine,  Key  "West,  Apalachicola,  Pensacola,  Mag- 
nolia, St.  John’s  River,  and  Fernandina;  and  two 
ports  of  delivery — Palatka  and  Bay  Port.  This  State 
was  bought  by  the  United  States,  of  Spain  in  1819. 

The  capital  is  Tallahasse.  The  State  election  is  held 
on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November. 
The  Legislature  meets  on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first 
Monday  in  January. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  : “Be  it  enacted 
by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
State  of  Florida,  in  General  Assembly  convened.” 

21 


320 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


David  L.  Yulee, 

J.  D.  Wescott, 
Jackson  Morton, 

S.  It.  Mallory, 

A.  S.  Welch, 
Thomas  W.  Osborn, 
Abijah  Gilbert, 


from  1845  to  1861. 

“ 1845  “ 1851. 

“ 1849  “ 1855. 

“ 1851  “ 1861. 

“ 1868  “ 1869. 

“ 1868  “ 1873. 

“ 1869  “ 1875. 


Georgia  is  one  of  the  thirteen  original  States,  and 
has  an  area  of  52,009  square  miles,  equal  to  33,285,760 
acres.  She  was  named  after  George  II. 

The  population  in  1870,  was  1,200,000.  This  State 
has  seven  Representatives  in  Congress. 

The  State  lies  in  the  fifth  judicial  circuit,  and  has 
two  judicial  districts ; also  four  ports  of  entry — Sa- 
vannah, Brunswick,  St.  Mary’s  and  Hardwicke ; and 
two  ports  of  delivery — Augusta  and  Sunbury. 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


321 


The  capital  is  Atlanta.  The  State  election  is 
held  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  August.  The  Legislature 
meets  on  the  second  Wednesday  in  January. 

The  enacting  clause  of  her  laws  is : “ Be  it  enacted 
by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
State  of  Georgia  in  General  Assembly  met ; and  it  i3 
hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same.” 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


"William  Few, 
James  Gunn, 

James  Jackson, 

George  Walton, 
Josiah  Tatnall, 

A.  Baldwin, 

J.  Melledge, 
George  Jones, 
W.  H.  Crawford, 

Charles  Tait, 

W.  B.  Bullock, 
Wm.  W.  Bibb, 

G.  M.  Troup, 

John  Forsyth, 

F.  Walker, 

John  Elliot, 
Nicholas  Ware, 
T.  W.  Cobb, 

O.  H.  Prince, 
John  P.  King, 
W.  Lumpkin, 

J.  M.  Berrien, 


from 

1789 

u 

1789 

* 1 

f 1793 

[1801 

a 

1795 

u 

1796 

“ 1 

r 1796 

l 1805 

u 

1806 

u 

1807 

a 

1807 

“ 1 

r 1809 

[1813 

a 

1813 

a 

1813 

u J 

r 1815 

[ 1829 

u J 

f 1819 

[ 1829 

u 

-1819 

a 

1819 

44 

1821 

44 

1824 

U 

1828 

44 

1833 

U 

1837 

u J 

f 1825 

4 

[ 1841 

to  1793. 
“ 1801. 
“ 1795. 
“ 1806. 
“ 1796. 
“ 1799. 
“ 1805. 
“ 1807. 
“ 1809. 
“ 1807. 
“ 1813. 
“ 1813. 
“ 1819. 
“ 1813. 
“ 1816. 
“ 1818. 
“ 1833. 
“ 1819. 
“ 1837. 
“ 1821. 
“ 1821. 
“ 1823. 
“ 1828. 
“ 1829. 
“ 1837. 
“ 1841. 
“ 1829. 
“ 1851. 


322 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


A.  Cuthbert,  from 

W.  T.  Colquitt,  “ 

H.  V.  Johnson,  “ 

W.  C.  Dawson,  “ 

Robert  Toombs,  “ 

R.  M.  Charleton,  “ 

, Alfred  Iverson,  “ 

Joshua  Hill  “ 

Foster  Dlodgett,  “ 


1837  to  1843. 
1843  “ 1849. 

1848  “ 1849. 

1849  “ 1855. 
1853  “ 1861. 
1852  “ 1853. 
1855  “ 1861. 
1871  “ 1873. 
1871  “ 1877. 


ILLINOIS. 


This  State  came  into  the  Union  on  the  third  day  of 
Dec.,  1818,  making  the  twenty-first  State.  It  was 
carved  out  of  what  was  then  known  as  the  Northwes- 
tern Territory.  Illinois  has  an  area  of  55,405  square 
miles,  equal  to  35,459,200  acres;  had  a population  in 
1870  of  2,539,638;  and  has  now  fourteen  Representa- 
tives in  Congress,  forms  a part  of  the  seventh  judicial 
circuit.  Forms  two  judicial  districts, — Northern  and 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


323 


Southern — has  one  port  of  entry,  viz. : Chicago  ; and 
four  ports  of  delivery,  viz. : Alton,  Quincy,  Cairo  and 
Peoria. 

The  capital  is  at  Springfield.  The  State  election  is 
held  on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  Novem- 
ber. The  Legislature  meets  biennially  on  the  first 
Monday  in  January. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  as  follows:  “Be  it 
enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represen- 
ted in  the  General  Assembly.’’ 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


J.  S.  Thomas, 

from 

1818 

to  1829. 

N.  Edwards, 

U 

1818 

U 

1824. 

John  McLean, 

a 

j 1824 
1 1829 

U 

u 

1825. 

1830. 

D.  J.  Baker, 

a 

1830  1 month. 

E.  K.  Kajie, 

u 

1825 

u 

1836. 

J.  M.  Robinson, 

u 

1830 

u 

1841. 

W.  L.  D.  Ewing, 

u 

1835 

u 

1837. 

R.  M.  Young, 

u 

1837 

a 

1843. 

S.  McRoberts, 

u 

1841 

u 

1843. 

J.  Semple, 

« 

1843 

a 

1847. 

Sidney  Breeze, 

u 

1843 

u 

1849. 

S.  A.  Douglas, 
James  Shields, 

a 

1847 

u 

1861. 

u 

1849 

u 

1855. 

L.  Trumbull, 

u 

1855 

u 

1873. 

0.  H.  Browning, 

u 

1861 

u 

1863. 

W.  A.  Richardson, 

u 

1 

1863 

u 

1865. 

Richard  Yates, 

a 

1865 

u 

1871. 

John  A.  Logan, 

u 

1871 

u 

1877. 

324 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


INDIANA. 


The  State  of  Indiana  was  formed  out  of  part  of  what 
was  called  the  Northwestern  Territory ; was  admitted 
as  a State  Dec.  11,  1816,  making  the  nineteenth  State. 
She  has  an  area  of  33,809  square  miles,  equal  to  21,- 
637,760  acres.  Her  population  in  1870  was  1,  673,046 
She  has  at  present  eleven  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress. Indiana  is  the  seventh  judicial  circuit,  and 
forms  one  judicial  district.  There  is  no  port  of  entry 
in  this  State ; hut  there  are  three  ports  of  delivery,  to- 
wit:  Evansville,  New  Albany,  and  Madison;  which 
are  attached  to  the  New  Orleans  collection  district. 

The  capital  is  Indianapolis.  The  State  election  is 
held  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  October.  The  Legisla- 
ture meets  only  once  in  two  years,  on  the  first  W ednes- 
day  of  January. 

The  enacting  clause  of  her  laws  is  in  these  words : 
“Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
of  Indiana.” 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


825 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


James  Noble, 

from 

1816  to  1831. 

W.  Taylor, 

u 

1816  “ 1825. 

W.  Hendricks, 

u 

1825  « 1837. 

R.  Hanna, 

u 

1831  “ 1831. 

John  Tipton, 

a 

1831  « 1839. 

0.  H.  Smith, 

u 

1837  “ 1843. 

A.  S.  White, 

u 

1839  « 1845. 

E.  A.  Hannegan, 

u 

1843  “ 1849. 

J.  D.  Bright, 

u 

1845  “ 1862. 

J.  Whitcomb, 

u 

1849  « 1855. 

C.  W.  Cathcart, 

u 

1852  “ 1853. 

John  Pettit, 

u 

1853  “ 1855. 

G.  N.  Fitch, 

u 

1857  « 1861. 

H.  A.  Lane, 

u 

1861  « 1867- 

D.  Turpee, 

u 

1863  “ 1863. 

J.  A.  Wright, 

u 

1862  “ 1863. 

T.  A.  Hendricks, 

u 

“ 1869. 

0.  P.  Morton, 

u 

1867  “ 1873. 

Daniel  D.  Pratt, 

u 

1869  « 1875. 

IOWA. 

Iowa  was  conditionally  admitted  into  the  Union 


326 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


March  3,  1845,  making  the  twenty-eighth  State.  We 
have  called  this  the  twenty-eighth  State,  and  Florida 
the  twenty-seventh.  Both  were  admitted  on  the  same 
day,  and  by  one  act.  Iowa  has  an  area  of  55,045  square 
miles,  equal  to  35,228,800  acres.  The  population  in 
1870  was  1,191,802.  At  present  she  has  six  Represen- 
tatives in  Congress.  This  State  lies  in  the  eighth  judi- 
cial-circuit, and  makes  one  judicial  district.  She  has 
no  port  of  entry,  but  has  three  ports  of  delivery,  to 
wit:  Burlington,  Keokuk,  and  Dubuque ; all  of  which 
are  attached  to  the  collection  district  of  Hew  Orleans, 
in  the  State  of  Louisiana. 

Des  Moines  is  the  capital.  The  State  election  is  held 
on  the  second  Tuesday  of  October.  The  Legislature 
meets  biennially  on  the  second  Monday  in  January. 

The  enacting  clause  of  her  laws  is  in  these  words : 
“ Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
of  Iowa.” 


George  W.  Jones,  from  1848  to  1859. 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Augustus  C.  Dodge, 


U 


1848  “ 1855. 


James  Harlan, 


James  W.  Grimes, 


James  B.  Howell, 
George  G.  W right, 


Samuel  J.  Kirkwood, 


U 


U 


1859  “ 1869. 
1866  “ 1867. 

1870  “ 1871. 

1871  “ 1877. 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


327 


KANSAS. 


Kansas  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a State,  Jan. 
29,  1861,  making  the  thirty-fourth  State.  Kansas  has 
an  area  of  78,418  square  miles,  equal  to  50,187,520 
acres.  The  population  in  1870  was  362,872,  She  has 
now  one  Representative  in  Congress,  This  State  is 
in  the  eighth  judicial  circuit,  and  forms  one  judicial 
district.  It  has  no  ports  of  entry  or  delivery. 

Topeka  is  the  capital.  The  State  election  is  held  on 
the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November.  The 
Legislature  meets  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  January. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  as  follows  : “ Be 

it  enacted  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Kansas.” 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


James  Henry  Lane,  from 
Samuel  C.  Pomeroy,  “ 

E.  Gr.  Ross,  “ 

Alexander  Caldwell,  “ 


1861  to  1866. 
1861  “ 1873. 
1866  “ 1871. 
1871  “ 1877. 


328 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


KENTUCKY. 


Kentucky  was  admitted  into  the  Union  on  the  first 
of  June,  1792,  and  has  an  area  of  37,680  square  miles, 
equal  to  24,115,200  acres. 

The  population  in  1870  numbered  1,321,001.  The 
State  ha3  now  nine  Representatives  in  Congress ; is  in 
the  sixth  judicial  circuit,  by  an  act  of  1866 ; forms  one 
judicial  district;  has  one  port  of  entry,  Louisville;  and 
two  ports  of  delivery,  Paducah  and  Columbus. 

Before  Kentucky  was  erected  into  a State,  it  formed 
a part  of  the  State  of  Virginia. 

It  was  the  second  State  admitted,  making  the 
fifteenth  State.  Frankfort  is  the  capital. 

The  State  elections  are  held  on  the  first  Monday  of 
August.  The  Legislature  meets  on  the  first  Monday 
in  December. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  in  the  following 
words:  “Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Kentucky.” 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


John  Brown,  from 

John  Edwards,  “ 

Humphrey  Marshall,  “ 
John  Breckenridge,  “ 

Buckner  Thurston,  “ 

John  Adair,  “ 

Henry  Clay,  “ 

John  Pope,  “ 

George  M.  Bibb  “ 

Jesse  Bledsoe,  “ 

George  Walker,  “ 

William  T.  Barry,  “ 

Isham  Talbot,  “ 

Martin  D.  Hardin  “ 

John  J.  Crittenden,  “ 


Bichard  M.  Johnson,  “ 

William  Logan,  “ 
John  Kowan,  “ 

James  T.  Moorehead,  “ 
Jos’h  R.  Underwood,  “ 
Thomas  Metcalf,  “ 
Archibald  Dixon,  “ 
David  Meriwether,  “ 
J.  B.  Thompson,  “ 
Lazarus  W.  Powell,  “ 
J.  C.  Breckinridge,  “ 
Garrett  Davis,  “ 

James  Guthrie,  “ 

Thos.  C.  McCreery,  “ 
John  W.  Stevenson,  “ 


1792  to  1805. 
1792  “ 1795. 
1795  “ 1801. 
1801  “ 1805. 
1805  “ 1810. 

1805  “ 1806. 

1806  “ 1807. 
1810  “ 1811. 

* 1831  “ 1842. 
1849  “ 1855. 

1807  “ 1813. 
/ 1811  “ 1814. 
\ 1829  “ 1835. 

1813  “ 1815. 

1814  « 1814. 
1814  “ 1816. 

/ 1815  “ 1819. 
\ 1820  « 1825. 

1816  “ 1817. 
f 1817  “ 1819. 
J 1835  “ 1841. 
) 1842  « 1849. 

1855  « 1861. 
/ 1819  « 1823. 
\ 1823  “ 1829. 
1819  « 1820. 
1826  “ 1831. 
1841  “ 1847. 

1847  « 1853. 

1848  1849. 
1852  « 1855. 

1852  « 1852. 

1853  “ 1859. 
1859  “ 1865. 
1861  « 1861. 
1861  “ 1873. 
1865  « 1868. 
.1868  “ 1871. 
1871  “ 1877. 


330 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


LOUISIANA. 

Louisiana  was  formed  out  of  a part  of  the  Louis- 
iana purchase,  made  of  France  in  1803,  and  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union  April  8th,  1812,  making  the 
eighteenth  State. 

She  has  an  area  of  46,431  square  miles,  equal  to  29,- 
715,840  acres.  The  population  in  1870  numbered  732,- 
731 ; She  has  five  Representatives  in  Congress. 

Louisiana  forms  a part  of  the  fifth  judicial  circuit, 
and  constitutes  two  judicial  districts,  viz. : the  eastern 
and  western  districts  of  Louisiana.  This  State  has 
one  collection  district,  denominated  the  district  of 
New  Orleans ; which  city  is  the  only  port  of  entry. 
The  shores  of  the  river  Ohio,  and  all  the  rivers  emp- 
tying into  the  Mississippi,  are  attached  to  the  district 
of  New  Orleans,  though  most  of  them  do  not  lie  in  the 
State.  Several  of  the  cities  and  towns  on  these  rivers  are 
made  ports  of  delivery.  Collection  districts  are  not 
always  confined  to  one  State. 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


331 


Baton  Rouge  is  the  capital.  The  Legislature  meets 
on  the  first  Monday  in  January,  once  in  two  years. 
The  State  election  is  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  No- 
vember. 

The  enacting  clause  other  laws  is  as  follows : “ Be 
it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  State  of  Louisiana,  in  General  Assembly  con- 
vened.” 


Thomas  Posey,  October  to  December,  1812. 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Allan  B.  Macgruder,  “ 
Eligius  Fromentin,  “ 
W.  C.  C.  Claiborne,  “ 

Henry  Johnson,  “ 


James  Brown,  from 


1812  “ 1813. 

1813  “ 1819. 
1817  “ 1818. 


"Wm.  Kelly, 


Alexander  Barrow,  “ 
Charles  M.  Conrad,  “ 


Dominique  Bouligny,  “ 
Josiah  S.  Johnston,  “ 
Edward  Livingston,  “ 
Geo.  A.  Waggaman,  “ 
Alexander  Porter  “ 


Robert  C.  Nichols,  “ 
Alexander  Morton,  “ 


1822  “ 1825. 
1824  “ 1829. 
1824  “ 1833. 
1829  “ 1831. 
1831  “ 1835. 
1833  « 1837. 
1833  “ 1841. 
1838  “ 1842. 

1841  “ 1847. 

1842  “ 1843. 


Solomon  "W.  Downs, 
John  Slidell, 


Pierre  Soule, 


Judah  P.  Benjamin, 
John  S.  Harris, 


Wm.  Pitt  Kellogg, 
J.  R.  West, 


u 


1847  “ 1853. 
1853  “ 1861. 
1853  « 1861. 
1868  « 1871. 
1868  « 1873. 
1871  “ 1877. 


332 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


MAINE. 


Maine  was  admitted  into  the  Union  on  the  15th  day 
of  March,  1820,  making  the  twenty-third  State.  She 
has  an  area  of  31,766  square  miles,  equal  to  20,330,- 
240  acres.  In  1870  the  population  amounted  to  626,- 
463.  At  the  present  time  this  State  has  five  Rep- 
resentatives in  Congress.  Maine  forms  a part  of  the 
first  judicial  circuit,  and  constitutes  one  judicial  district. 
This  State  has  thirteen  ports  of  entry,  and  thirty-two 
ports  of  delivery.  Until  it  was  admitted  into  the 
Union,  it  formed  a part  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts. 

Augusta  is  the  capital.  The  State  elections  are  held 
on  the  second  Monday  of  September.  The  Legisla- 
ture meets  on  the  first  "Wednesday  of  January. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  as  follows : “ Be 
it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
in  Legislature  assembled.” 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


333 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


John  Holmes,  from 
John  Chandler,  “ 

Albion  P.  Parris,  “ 

Peleg  Sprague,  “ 

Ether  Shepley,  “ 

John  Ruggles,  “ 

Judah  Dana,  “ 

Reuel  "Williams,  “ 

George  Evans,  “ 

John  Fairfield,  “ 

Wyuan  B.  S.  Moore,  “ 
Jas.  W.  Bradbury,  “ 

Hannibal  Hamlin,  “ 

Amos  Nourse,  “ 

Wm.  P.  Fessenden/4 

LotM.  Morrill,  “ 
Nathan  A.  Farwell,  “ 


1820  to  1833. 
1820  “ 1829. 
1827  « 1829. 
1829  “ 1835. 
1833  “ 1836. 

1835  « 1841. 

1836  “ 1837. 

1837  “ 1843. 
1841  “ 1847. 
1843  “ 1847. 
1848  “ 1848. 
1847  “ 1853. 

f 1848  “ 1857. 
< 1857  “ 1861. 
( 1869  « 1875. 

1857 1857. 
f 1853  « 1864. 
\ 1865  « 1869. 
1861  “ 1877. 
1864  « 1865. 


MARYLAND. 


Maryland  is  one  of  the  original  thirteen  States,  and 


334 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


lias  an  area  of  11,124  square  miles,  equal  to  7,119,360 
acres.  The  population  in  1870  was  780,806.  She  now 
has  five  Representatives  in  Congress.  By  an  act 
of  Congress,  passed  in  1866,  this  State  was  put  in  the 
fourth  judicial  circuit,  which  is  composed  of  Mary- 
land, Virginia,  West  Virginia,  North  and  South  Caro- 
lina. Maryland  constitutes  one  judicial  district;  has 
ten  ports  of  entry,  viz. : Baltimore,  Chester,  Oxford, 
Vienna,  Snow-Hill,  Annapolis,  Nottingham,  St.  Mary’s, 
Georgetown,  and  Havre  de  Grace  ; and  twelve  ports 
of  delivery. 

Annapolis  is  the  capital.  The  State  election  is  held 
on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November. 
The  Legislature  meets  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  Janu- 
ary. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  as  follows : “ Be 
it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Maryland.” 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 

Charles  Carroll,  1 
(of  Carrollton)  J 
John  Henry, 

Richard  Potts, 

John  E.  Howard, 

James  Lloyd, 

William  Hindman, 

Robert  W right, 

Samuel  Smith, 

Philip  Reed, 

R.  H.  Goldsborough, 

Robert  G.  Harper, 

Alexander  C.  Hanson, 

William  Pinkney, 


1789  to  1793. 

1789  “ 1797. 
1793  “ 1796. 

1796  “ 1803. 

1797  “ 1800. 
1800  “ 1801. 
1801  “ 1806. 

/ 1803  “ 1815. 
\ 1822  “ 1833. 

1806  “ 1813. 
/ 1813  “ 1819. 
\ 1835  « 1836. 
1816  “ 1816. 
1816  “ 1819. 
1819  “ 1822. 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


335 


Edward  Lloyd,  from 

Ezekiel  F.  Chambers,  “ 
Joseph  Kent,  “ 

John  8.  Spence,  “ 

William  D.  Merrick,  “ 

John  Leidsker,  “ 

James  A.  Pearce,  “ 

Keverdy  Johnson,  “ 

David  Stuart,  “ 

Thomas  G.  Pratt,  “ 

Anthony  Kennedy,  “ 

Thomas  H.  Hicks,  “ 

John  A.  J.  Cresswell,  “ 
Philip  F.  Thomas,  “ 

George  Vickers,  “ 

Win.  T.  Hamilton,  “ 


1819  to  1826. 
1826  « 1835. 
1833  “ 1838. 
1836  “ 1841. 
1838  “ 1845. 
1841  “ 1843. 
1843  “ 1862. 
1845  “ 1851. 
1863  “ 1868. 

1849  “ 1850. 

1850  “ 1857. 
1857  “ 1863. 
1862  “ 1864. 
1865  “ 1867. 

“ 1867. 
1868  “ 1873. 
1869  “ 1875. 


MASSACHUSETTS. 

Massachusetts,  the  “ Bay  State,”  as  she  is  com- 
monly called,  from  the  great  bays  indenting  her  east- 
ern shore,  is  one  of  the  original  thirteen  States,  and 
22 


336 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


lias  an  area  of  7,800  square  miles,  equal  to  4,992,000 
acres. 

Her  population  in  1860  amounted  to  1,457,351, 
She  has  ten  Members  of  Congress. 

Massachusetts  lies  in  the  first  judicial  circuit,  which 
is  composed  of  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Hew 
Hampshire  and  Maine — and  forms  one  judicial  dis- 
trict. 

There  are  now  fourteen  ports  of  entry  in  this  State, 
and  twenty-five  ports  of  delivery.  These  have  been 
so  often  changed,  discontinued,  or  annexed  to  others, 
and  will  probably  be  hereafter,  that  we  omit  a list  of 
them,  and  only  remark  that  Boston  is  the  principal 
one. 

Boston  is  the  capital.  The  Legislature  meets  on  the 
first  Wednesday  of  January.  The  State  election  is 
held  on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  January. 

The  enacting  clause  of  her  laws  is : “ Be  it  enacted 
by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  in  Gen- 
eral Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same, 
as  follows.” 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Tristram  Dalton, 
Caleb  Strong, 
George  Cabot, 

Tlieo.  Sedgewick, 
Benj.  Goodhue, 
Samuel  Dexter, 
Dwight  Foster, 
Jonathan  Mason, 
John  Q.  Adams, 
Timothy  Pickering, 

James  Lloyd, 


from 

1789  to  1791. 

u 

1789 

“ 1796. 

u 

1791 

“ 1796. 

a 

1796 

“ 1799. 

u 

1796 

“ 1800. 

u 

1799 

“ 1800. 

u 

1800 

“ 1803. 

44 

1800 

“ 1803. 

44 

1803 

“ 1808. 

44 

1803 

“ 1811. 

ii 

f 1808 

“ 1813. 

j 1822 

“ 1826. 

INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


337 


Joseph  B.  Varnum, 
Christopher  Gore, 
Eli  P.  Ashmun, 
Harrison  Gray  Otis, 
Prentiss  Mellen, 
Elijah  H.  Mills, 
Nathaniel  Silsbee, 

Daniel  Webster, 

Rufus  Choate, 

John  Davis, 

Isaac  C.  Bates, 
Robert  C.  Winthrop, 
Robert  Rantoul, 
Charles  Sumner, 
Edward  Everett, 

J ulius  Rockwell, 
Henry  Wilson, 


from 

1811  to  181V. 

u 

1813 

U 

1816. 

a 

1816 

a 

1818. 

u 

1817 

a 

1822. 

u 

1818 

a 

1820. 

u 

1820 

u 

1827. 

u 

1826 

a 

1835. 

u 

[1827 

u 

1841. 

\ 1845 

u 

1850. 

u 

1841 

u 

1845. 

(1835 

u 

1841. 

a 

1 1845 

u 

1847. 

(1847 

u 

1853. 

a 

1841 

a 

1845. 

u 

1850 

a 

1851. 

a 

1851 

a 

1851. 

a 

1851 

a 

1875. 

u 

1853 

a 

1854. 

u 

1854 

a 

1855. 

a 

1855 

u 

1877. 

MICHIGAN. 

The  Territory  of  Michigan  was  changed  into  a State 


338 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


preliminarily  June  15, 1836,  and  was  fully  admitted  to 
an  equality  with  all  the  States  January  26,  1837, 
making  the  twenty-fifth  State,  (Arkansas  was  admitted 
on  the  same  day).  Her  area  is  56,243  square  miles 
equal  to  35,995,520  acres.  The  population  in  1870  was 
1,184,296,  which  entitled  her  to  six  Representatives  in 
Congress.  By  an  act  of  1866,  Michigan  was  located 
in  the  sixth  judicial  circuit;  and  forms  two  judicial 
districts,  and  has  four  collection  districts  and  four  ports 
of  entry,  viz.:  Detroit, Port  Huron,  Grand  Haven,  and 
Michilimackinac ; also  five  ports  of  delivery,  (if  the 
President  deem  them  necessary). 

The  capital  is  Lansing.  The  State  election  is  held 
on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November. 
The  Legislature  meets  biennially  on  the  first  W ednesday 
in  January. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  as  follows:  “The 
people  of  the  State  of  Michigan  enact.” 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Lucius  Lyon, 

from 

1836  to  1839. 

John  Norvall, 

u 

1836 

U 

1841. 

Augustus  S.  Porter, 

u 

1839 

U 

1845. 

Vm,  Woodbridge, 

u 

1841 

a 

1847. 

Lewis  Cass, 

a 

1845 

« 

1857. 

Alpheus  Fitch, 

u 

1847 

u 

1853. 

Thomas  Fitzgerald, 

u 

1848 

u 

1849. 

Charles  E.  Stewart, 

u 

1853 

a 

1859. 

Zachariah  Chandler, 

u 

1857 

a 

1875. 

Kinsley  S.  Bingham 

u 

1859 

a 

1861. 

Jacob  M.  Howard, 

u 

1862 

a 

1871. 

Thomas  W.  Ferry, 

u 

1871 

a 

1877. 

INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


339 


MINNESOTA. 

This  State  was  admitted  into  the  Union  on  the  11th 
day  of  May,  1858,  and  made  the  thirty-second  State. 
It  has  an  area  of  83,531  square  miles,  equal  to  53,459,- 
840  acres.  The  population  in  1870  amounted  to  435,- 
511.  In  1862,  an  act  was  passed  increasing  the  num- 
ber of  Representatives  in  Congress  from  233  to  241. 
This  increase  of  eight  members  was  given  to  the 
States  of  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Illinois,  Iowa, 
Vermont,  Rhode  Island  and  Minnesota.  By  these 
means  this  State  was  allowed  two  Members  of  Con- 
gress. 

It  lies  in  the  eighth  judicial  circuit,  which  is  com- 
posed of  Missouri,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Arkansas  and  Min- 
nesota. Minnesota  forms  one  judicial  district,  and 
has  no  ports  of  entry  or  delivery. 

St.  Paul  is  the  capital.  The  Legislature  meets  an- 
nually on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  Novem- 
ber. The  State  election  is  held  on  the  Tuesday  after 
the  first  Monday  in  January. 


340 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Henry  M.  Rice, 
James  Shields, 

Alex.  Ramsey 
Daniel  Norton, 
Mort.  S.  Wilkinson, 
William  Windom, 


from  1857  to  1863. 

“ 1857  “ 1859. 

“ 1863  “ 1869. 

“ 1865  “ 1871. 

“ 1859  “ 1865. 

“ 1871  “ 1877 


MISSISSIPPI. 


The  Territory  of  Mississippi  became  a State  in  1817 ; 
making  the  twentieth  State.  The  area  is  47,156  square 
miles,  equal  to  30,179,840  acres.  The  population  in 
1870  numbered  834,170.  This  State  has  now  five  Rep- 
resentatives in  Congress.  The  State  lies  in  the 
fifth  j udicial  circuit,  and  is  divided  into  two  j udicial  dis- 
tricts, viz. : the  Northern  and  Southern  districts  of  Mis- 
sissippi. She  has  three  ports  of  entry,  viz.:  Natchez, 
Vicksburg,  and  one  near  the  mouth  of  Pearl  river,  to 
be  established  whenever  the  President  may  direct ; 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES.  341 


also  three  ports  of  delivery,  viz. : Grand  Gulf,  Ship  Is- 
land and  Columbus. 

Jackson  is  the  capital.  The  State  election  is  held 
on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November, 
and  her  Legislature  meets  biennially  on  the  Tuesday 
after  the  first  Monday  in  January. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  in  these  words : 
“ Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Represen- 
tatives of  the  State  of  Mississippi  in  General  Assembly 
convened.” 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


"Walter  Leake, 

Thomas  H.  Williams, 

"David  Holmes, 
Powhattan  Ellis, 
Thomas  B.  Reed, 
Robert  Adams, 
George  Poindexter. 
John  Black, 

R.  J.  Walker, 

James  F.  Trotter, 

John  Henderson, 
Jesse  Speight, 

Joseph  W.  Chambers, 

Jefferson  Davis, 

Henry  S.  Foote, 

John  W.  Rea, 

Walter  Brooks, 

Albert  G.  Brown, 
Stephen  Adams, 
Adelbert  Ames, 

Henry  R.  Revels, 
James  L.  Alcorn, 


from  1817  to  1820. 
« / 1817  “ 1829. 

\ 1838  “ 1839. 
“ 1820  “ 1825. 
“ 1825  “ 1833. 
“ 1826  “ 1829. 
“ 1830  “ 1830. 

1830  “ 1835. 
“ 1832  “ 1838. 
« 1835  “ 1845. 
“ 1838  « 1838. 
“ 1839  “ 1845. 
“ 1845  “ 1847. 
“ 1845  “ 1847. 
„ f 1847  “ 1851. 

\ 1857  “ 1861. 
« 1847  “ 1853. 
“ 1851  “ 1851. 
“ 1852  « 1853. 
“ 1854  “ 1851. 
“ 1852  “ 1857. 

“ “ 1875. 

“ 1869  “ 1871. 
“ 1871  “ 1777. 


342 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


MISSOURI. 


This  State  was  formed  out  of  a part  of  the  Louisiana 
purchase,  and  was  admitted  in  1821;  making  the 
twenty-fourth  State.  Missouri  is  very  large,  and  has 
an  area  of  67,380  square  miles,  equal  to  43,123,200 
acres.  Her  population  in  1870  amounted  to  1, 715,000. 
At  present  (1871),  she  has  nine  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress. This  State  is  a part  of  the  eighth  judicial  cir- 
cuit, and  formerly  was  one  judicial  district;  but  by 
act  of  1857  was  divided  into  two,  the  Eastern  and 
Western.  It  has  no  port  of  entry,  and  but  one  port 
of  delivery,  Hannibal. 

The  capital  is  Jefferson  City.  The  State  election  is 
held  on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  Novem- 
ber, and  the  Legislature  meets  on  the  last  Monday  of 
December. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  as  follows  : “ Be 
it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Missouri,  as  follows." 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


343 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Thomas  H.  Benton, 
David  Barton, 
Alexander  Buckner, 
Lewis  F.  Linn, 

David  R.  Atchison, 

Gratz  B.  Brown, 
Henry  S.  Geyer, 
Trusten  Polk, 

James  S.  Green, 
Waldo  P.  Johnson, 
John  B.  Henderson, 
Charles  D.  Drake, 
Carl  Schurz, 

Francis  P.  Blair, 


from  1821  to  1851. 

“ 1821  “ 1831. 

“ 1831  “ 1833. 

« 1833  “ 1843. 

4<  / 1843  « 1849. 

\ 1849  “ 1855. 

“ 1863  “ 1867. 

“ 1851  “ 1857. 

“ 1857  “ 1861. 

“ 1856  “ 1861. 

“ 1861  “ 1862. 

“ 1862  “ 1869. 

“ 1867  “ 1871. 

“ 1869  “ 1875. 

“ 1871  “ 1873. 


NEBRASKA. 


This  State  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  February 
9,  1867,  making  the  thirty-seventh  State.  It  has  an 
area  of  122,007  square  miles,  equal  to  78,084,480  acres. 


344 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Population  in  1870, 123,000.  It  forms  the  9th  judi- 
cial district,  and  has  no  ports  of  entry  or  delivery. 

The  capital  is  Lincoln.  The  State  election  is  held  on 
the  second  Tuesday  in  October.  The  Legislature  meets 
on  the  Thursday  after  the  first  Monday  in  January. 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 

John  M.  Thayer,  from  1867  to  1871. 

Thomas  W.  Tipton,  “ 1867  “ 1875. 

Phineas  W.  Hitchcock,  “ 1871  “ 1877. 


HEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Hew  Hampshire  is  one  of  the  thirteen  original 
States,  and  has  an  area  of  9,280  square  miles,  which 
make  5,939,200  acres ; also  a population,  in  1870,  of 
318,300.  She  has  three  Members  of  Congress. 

Hew  Hampshire  lies  in  the  first  judicial  circuit,  com- 
posed of  this  State,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island  and 
Maine.  It  constitutes  one  judicial  district. 

The  whole  State  is  embraced  in  one  collection  dis- 
trict— consequently  there  is  but  one  port  of  entry  in 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


345 


the  State,  at  Portsmouth.  There  are  also  three  ports 
of  delivery,  to-wit:  New  Castle,  Dover  and  Exeter. 

The  capital  is  Concord.  Here  the  Legislature  as- 
sembles on  the  first  Monday  in  J une.  The  State  elec- 
tion is  held  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  March. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  as  follows:  “Be 
it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives, 
in  General  Assembly  convened.” 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Paine  Wingate, 

John  Langdon, 
Samuel  Livermore, 
Simeon  Olcott, 

James  Sheafe, 
William  Plummer, 
Nicholas  Gilman, 
Nahum  Parker, 
Charles  Cutts, 
Jeremiah  Mason, 
Thos.  "W.  Thompson, 
David  L.  Morrill, 
Clement  Storer, 

John  P.  Parrott, 
Samuel  Bell, 

Levi  Woodbury, 

Isaac  Hill, 

Henry  Hubbard, 

John  Page, 

Franklin  Pierce, 
Leonard  Wilcox, 

Charles  G.  Atherson, 

Benning  W.  Jenness, 
Joseph  Cilley, 


from 

1789  to  1793. 

U 

1789  “ 1801. 

U 

1793  “ 1801. 

a 

1801  “ 1805. 

a 

1801  “ 1802. 

a 

1802  “ 1807. 

(C 

1805  “ 1814. 

u 

1807  « 1810. 

a 

1810  “ 1813. 

u 

1813  « 1817. 

a 

1814  « 1817. 

a 

1817  “ 1823. 

u 

1817  “ 1819. 

u 

1819  “ 1825. 

u 

1823  « 1835. 

« 

/ 1825  “ 1831. 
\ 1841  “ 1845. 

u 

1831  “ 1835. 

u 

1835  « 1841. 

.< 

1836  “ 1837. 

u 

1837  “ 1842. 

u 

1842  « 1842. 

f 1843  “ 1849. 
^ 1852  “ 1853. 

u 

1845  “ 1846. 

u 

1846  “ 1847. 

346 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


John  P.  Hale,  from 

Moses  Norris,  “ 

Jared  W.  Williams,  “ 
John  S.  Wells, 

James  Bell,  “ 

Daniel  Clark,  u 

Aaron  H.  Cragin,  “ 

James  W.  Paterson,  “ 

George  C.  Fogg,  “ 


1847  to  1853. 
1855  “ 1865. 
1849  “ 1855. 
1853  “ 1854. 
1855  “ 1855. 
1855  “ 1857. 
1857  “ 1866. 
1867  “ 1877. 
1867  “ 1873. 
1866  “ 1867. 


NEW  JERSEY. 


New  Jersey  is  one  of  the  original  thirteen  States,  and 
has  an  area  of  8,320  square  miles,  equal  to  5,324,800 
acres.  The  population  in  1870  numbered  905,794. 
She  has  at  present  five  Representatives  in  Congress. 
This  State  lies  in  the  third  judicial  circuit,  which  is 
composed  of  this  State  and  Pennsylvania,  and  forms 
one  judicial  district.  There  are  six  collection  districts, 
and  consequently  six  ports  of  entry  in  New  Jersey,  viz.: 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


347 


Perth  Amboy,  Burlington,  Bridgeton,  Great  Egg  Har- 
bor, Little  Egg  Harbor  and  Newark.  There  are 
also  eight  ports  of  delivery.  A part  of  the  eastern 
shore  is  attached  to  the  port  of  New  York. 

The  capital  of  New  Jersey  is  Trenton.  The  State 
election  is  held  on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday 
in  November,  and  the  Legislature  assembles  on  the 
second  Tuesday  in  January. 

The  style  of  her  laws,  or  the  enacting  clause  thereof, 
is  as  follows:  “Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey.,, 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Jonathan  Elmer, 

from 

1789  to  1791. 

William  Patterson, 

a 

1789 

a 

1790. 

Philemon  Dickerson, 

a 

1790 

a 

1793. 

John  Rutherford, 

u 

1791 

u 

1798. 

Ered’k  Frelinghuysen, 

a 

1793 

u 

1796. 

Richard  Stockton, 

a 

1796 

u 

1799. 

Franklin  Davenport, 

a 

1798 

u 

1799. 

James  Schureman, 

a 

1799 

a 

1801. 

Jonathan  Dayton, 

u 

1799 

u 

1805. 

Aaron  Ogden, 

u 

1801 

a 

1803. 

John  Condit, 

u 

1803 

u 

1811. 

Aaron  Kitchell, 

a 

1805 

a 

1809. 

John  Lambert, 

a 

1809 

u 

1815. 

Mahlon  Dickerson, 

u 

1817 

a 

1833. 

James  J.  Wilson, 

a 

1815 

u 

1821. 

Samuel  L.  Southard, 

a 

f 1821 

\ 1833 

u 

u 

1823. 

1841. 

Joseph  Mcllvaine, 

u 

1823 

a 

1826. 

Thos.  Frelinghuysen, 

u 

1829 

a 

1835. 

Ephriam  Bateman, 

u 

1826 

u 

,1829. 

Garret  D.  Wall, 

a 

1835 

a 

1841. 

Jacob  Miller, 

u 

1841 

a 

1853. 

348 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


William  L.  Dayton, 
John  B.  Thompson, 
William  Pennington, 

William  Wright, 

Robert  F.  Stockton, 
John  0.  TenEyck, 
Richard  S.  Field, 
James  W.  Wall, 
John  P.  Stockton, 

F.  T.  Frelinghuysen, 
Alexander  G . Cattell, 
J ohn  P.  Stockton, 

F.  T.  Frelinghuysen, 


from 

1842  to  1851. 

u 

1853 

“ 1863. 

u 

1858 

“ 1858. 

u 

f 1853 

“ 1859. 

\ 1863 

“ 1866. 

u 

1851 

“ 1853. 

6i 

1859 

“ 1865. 

U 

1862 

“ 1863. 

U 

1863 

“ 1863. 

U 

1865 

“ 1866. 

u 

1867 

“ 1869. 

a 

1866 

“ 1871. 

u 

1869 

“ 1875. 

a 

1871 

“ 1877. 

NEW  YORK. 


Kew  York  is  one  of  the  original  thirteen  States. 
Its  area  is  47,000  square  miles,  equal  to  30,080,000 
acres. 

By  the  census  of  1860,  it  was  given  thirty-one  mem- 
bers of  Congress.  By  the  last  census,  (1870),  the  popu- 
lation was  ascertained  to  be  4,364,411. 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


349 


It  forms  part  of  the  second  judicial  circuit,  which 
consists  of  New  York,  Vermont,  Connecticut;  and  is 
divided  into  three  judicial  districts,  the  Northern* 
Southern  and  Eastern,  (the  Eastern  was  formed  from 
the  Southern,  Feb.  26,  1865). 

This  State  has  a great  length  of  sea,  lake  and  river 
coast,  and  consequently  has  eleven  ports  of  entry,  viz.: 
New  York,  Sag  Harbor,  Hudson,  Oswego,  Niagara, 
Buffalo  Creek,  Oswegatchie,  Dunkirk,  Rouse’s  Point, 
Cape  Vincent  and  Suspension  Bridge ; also  fourteen 
ports  of  delivery ; besides  which  the  President  is  au- 
thorized to  make  eight  or  nine  others  if  he  deems  it 
necessary  to  do  so.  The  ports  of  delivery  are  at  such 
places  on  the  Hudson  river,  on  the  Long  Island  shores, 
and  along  the  shores  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  lakes 
Ontario,  Champlain  and  Erie,  as  the  trade  of  these  lo- 
calities requires.  Jersey  City,  in  the  State  of  New 
Jersey,  is  also  attached  to  the  collection  district  of 
New  York. 

The  capital  of  New  York  is  Albany.  The  State 
elections  are  held  on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday 
in  November,  and  the  Legislature  meets  on  the  first 
Tuesday  in  January. 

The  style  of  the  laws,  or  the  enacting  clause,  is  as 
follows : “ Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of 
New  York  represented  in  Senate  and  Assembly.” 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Philip  Schuyler, 
Rufus  King, 
Aaron  Burr, 


from  1789  to  1791. 


u 


1791  “ 1797. 


350 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


John  Lawrence, 

John  S.  Hobart, 
'William  North, 
James  Watson, 
Governeur  Morris, 

John  Armstrong, 

DeWitt  Clinton, 
Theodore  Bailey, 
Samuel  L.  Mitchell, 
John  Smith, 

Obadiah  German, 

Nathan  Sanford, 

Martin  Van  Buren, 
Charles  Dudley, 
William  L.  Marcy, 
Nath’l  P.  Tallmadge, 
Silas  Wright, 

Daniel  S.  Dickinson, 
Henry  A.  Foster, 
John  A.  Dix, 
William  H.  Seward, 
Hamilton  Fish, 
Preston  King, 

Ira  Harris, 

Edwin  D.  Morgan, 
Roscoe  Conkling, 
Reuben  E.  Fenton, 


from 

1796  to  1800. 

U 

1798  “ 1798. 

U 

1798  « 1798. 

u 

1798  Resigned. 

u 

1800  “ 1803. 

« J 

f 1800  « 1802. 

[ 1803  « 1804. 

u 

1802  “ 1803. 

u 

1803  “ 1804. 

a 

1804  “ 1809. 

a 

1804  « 1813. 

a 

1809  “ 1815. 

« J 

r 1815  “ 1821. 

i 

[ 1825  « 1831. 

a 

1821  « 1829. 

a 

1829  « 1833. 

a 

1831  “ 1833. 

u 

1833  “ 1844. 

a 

1833  “ 1844. 

a 

1844  “ 1851. 

u 

1844  « 1845. 

u 

1845  « 1849. 

u 

1849  “ 1861. 

a 

1851  “ 1857. 

a 

1857  “ 1863. 

a 

1861  « 1867. 

a 

1863  “ 1869. 

a 

1867  “ 1873. 

a 

1869  ••  1875. 

INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


351 


NORTH  CAROLINA. 


This  State  is  one  of  the  original  thirteen  States, 
and  has  an  area  of  50,704  square  miles,  equal  to  32,- 
450,560  acres,  with  a population  of  1,069,614,  (one 
third  colored).  She  has  now  seven  members  of  Con- 
gress. North  Carolina,  by  act  of  1866,  was  located  in 
the  fourth  judicial  circuit,  which  is  composed  of 
Maryland,  Virginia,  "West  Virginia,  North  Carolina 
and  South  Carolina,  and  is  divided  into  three  judicial 
districts,  called  the  districts  of  Albemarle,  Pamlico, 
and  Cape  Fear.  The  collection  districts,  and  the  ports 
of  entry  and  delivery  in  this  State,  have  been  so  often 
modified  and  discontinued,  that  there  is  some  uncer- 
tainty as  to  the  number  at  this  time.  We  can  only 
make  an  approximate  statement.  There  are,  as  near 
as  we  can  determine,  ten  districts,  ten  ports  of  entry, 
and  nine  ports  of  delivery. 

Raleigh  is  the  capital.  There  the  Legislature  meets 

23 


352 


OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


biennially  on  the  first  Monday  of  November.  The 
State  election  is  held  on  the  first  Thursday  in  August. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  as  follows:  “Be  it 
enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  North 
Carolina,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of 
the  same.” 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Samuel  Johnson, 
Benjamin  Hawkins, 
Alexander  Martin, 
Timothy  Bloodworth, 

Jesse  Franklin, 

David  Stone, 

James  Turner, 
Nathaniel  Macon, 
James  Iredell, 
Montfort  Stokes, 

John  Branch, 

Bedford  Brown, 

Willie  P.  Mangum, 

Robert  Strange, 
William  A.  Graham, 
William  H.  Haywood, 
George  E.  Badger, 
Asa  Biggs, 

David  S.  Reed, 
Thomas  L.  Clingman, 
Thomas  Bragg, 
Joseph  C.  Abbott, 
John  Pool, 

Zebulon  B.  Vance, 


from 

1789  to  1793. 

U 

1789  “ 1795. 

ii 

1793  “ 1799. 

a 

1795  “ 1801. 

u 

f 1799  “ 1805. 

^ 1807  « 1813. 

u 

1801  “ 1813. 

u 

1805  “ 1816. 

a 

1815  “ 1828. 

u 

1828  “ 1831. 

a 

1816  “ 1823. 

6, 

1823  “ 1829. 

a 

1829  “ 1840. 

a 

/ 1840  “ 1853. 

\ 1831  “ 1836. 

' u 

1836  “ 1840. 

u 

1840  « 1843. 

a 

1843  “ 1846. 

a 

1846  “ 1855. 

a 

1854  “ 1858. 

a 

1855  “ 1859. 

u 

1858  “ 1861. 

a 

1859  “ 1861. 

a 

1868  “ 1871. 

a 

1868  “ 1873. 

u 

1871  “1877. 

INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


353 


[Owing  to  the  inability  of  the  publishers  to  procure  an  accurately 
engraved  seal  of  the  State  of  Nevada,  for  this  edition  of  4 ‘The  Na- 
tion,” they  deem  it  best  to  offer  the  following  brief  description  of  it: 
The  Seal  of  Nevada  presents  high  mountains,  with  the  sun  ap- 
pearing just  above  the  top  of  them;  in  the  distance,  a railroad  with 
a train  of  cars;  in  the  foreground,  a mule  team  loaded  with  ore, 
and  smelting  house;  illustrating  the  particular  industries  of  the 
State.  The  motto  is  “All  for  our  Country.”] 


NEVADA, 

Nevada  was  admitted  as  a State,  March  21st,  1864, 
making  the  thirty-sixth  State  in  the  Union. 

It  has  an  area  of  63,473  square  miles,  or  40,622,720 
acres.  The  population  in  1860,  while  yet  a Territory, 
was  6,857.  In  1870  it  had  increased  to  42,491.  In 
conformity  with  the  Constitutional  provision  that  every 
State  shall  have  one  Representative  in  Congress,  Neva- 
da has  one.  This  State  lies  in  the  ninth  judicial  circuit 
and  forms  one  judicial  district,  called  the  district  of 
Nevada. 

Carson  City  is  the  Capital.  The  State  election  is 
held  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  November ; and  the  Le- 
gislature meets  on  the  first  Monday  in  January. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  in  the  following 
words  : “ The  people  of  the  State  of  Nevada,  repre- 
sented in  Senate  and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows.” 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 

James  W.  Nye,  from  1865  to  1873. 

William  M.  Stewart,  “ 1865  “ 1875. 


354 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


OHIO. 

Ohio  was  admitted  into  the  Union  from  what  was 
then  known  as  the  Northwestern  Territory,  in  1802, 
and  made  the  seventeenth  State. 

It  has  an  area  of  39,964  square  miles,  equal  to  25,- 
576,960  acres.  The  population  in  1870  was  2,622,214. 
She  has  nineteen  Members  of  Congress. 

It  is  in  the  sixth  judicial  circuit,  and  forms  two  judi- 
cial districts,  viz. : the  Northern  and  Southern  districts 
of  Ohio. 

This  State  has  three  ports  of  entry,  to  wit:  Cleve- 
land, Toledo,  and  Portland;  and  four  ports  of  delivery, 
to  be  located  where  the  President  directs. 

The  capital  of  this  State  is  Columbus.  The  State 
election  is  now  held  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  October. 
The  Legislature  meets  on  the  first  Monday  of  January, 
biennially. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  as  follows  : “ Be 
it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Ohio.” 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


355 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


John  Smith, 

Thos.  Worthington, 

Edward  Tiffin, 

Return  J.  Meigs, 
Stanley  Griswold, 
Alexander  Campbell, 
Jeremiah  Morrow, 
Joseph  Kerr, 
Benjamin  Ruggles, 
William  A.  Trimble, 
Ethan  A.  Brown, 

Wm.  Henry  Harrison, 
Jacob  Burnett, 

Thomas  Ewing, 

Thomas  Morris, 
William  Allen, 
Benjamin  Tappan, 
Thomas  Corwin, 
Salmon  P.  Chase, 
Benjamin  F.  Wade, 
George  Ellis  Pugh, 
John  Sherman, 

Allen  G.  Thurman, 


from  1803  to  1808. 
« / 1803  « 1807. 

\ 1810  “ 1814. 
“ 1807  “ 1809. 
“ 1808  « 1810. 
“ 1809  “ 1809. 
“ 1809  “ 1813. 
“ 1813  “ 1819. 
“ 1814  “ 1815. 
“ 1815  “ 1833. 
“ 1819  “ 1821. 
“ 1822  “ 1825. 
“ 1825  “ 1828. 
“ 1828  “ 1831. 
M f 1831  “ 1837. 

X 1850  “ 1851. 
“ 1833  “ 1839. 
“ 1837  “ 1849. 
“ 1839  “ 1845. 
“ 1845  “ 1851. 
“ 1849  « 1855. 
“ 1851  “ 1869. 
“ 1851  “ 1861. 
“ 1861  « 1873. 
« 1869  “ 1875. 


356 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


OREGON. 

Oregon  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a State  on 
the  14th  day  of  February,  1859,  and  made  the  thirty- 
third  State.  It  has  an  area  of  95,274  square  miles, 
equal  to  60,975,360  acres.  The  population  amounted 
in  1870  to  90,922,  which  did  not  reach  the  number  re- 
quired to  entitle  it  to  a Member  of  Congress  according 
to  the  fixed  ratio.  But  every  State  is  entitled  to  one 
member,  whatever  its  population  may  be.  By  act  of 
1866,  the  States  of  Oregon,  Nevada  and  California 
were  constituted  the  ninth  judicial  circuit.  Oregon 
forms  one  judicial  district,  and  has  one  collection  dis- 
trict, and  one  port  of  entry. 

The  capital  is  Salem,  where  her  Legislature  meets 
once  in  two  years,  on  the  second  Monday  of  Septem- 
ber. The  State  election  is  held  on  the  1st  Monday  in 
June. 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


357 


UNITED  STATES  SENATOR. 


Joseph  Lane,  from 

Delazon  Smith,  “ 

Edward  D.  Baker,  “ 

Benj.  F.  Harding,  “ 

James  W.  hie  smith,  “ 
Benjamin  Stark,  “ 

Geo.  H.  Williams,  “ 

Henry  W.  Corbett,  “ 

James  K.  Kelly,  “ 


1859  to  1861. 
1859  “ 1860. 
1861  “ 1861. 
1862  “ 

1861  « 1867. 
1861  “ 1862. 
1865  “ 1871. 
1867  “ 1873. 
1871  “ 1877. 


PENNSYLVANIA. 


Pennsylvania  is  one  of  the  original  thirteen  States, 
and  is  often  figuratively  called  the  Keystone  State,  from 
the  central  position  she  occupied  in  the  original  num- 
ber of  States. 

Its  area  in  square  miles  is  46,000,  equal  to  29,440,- 
000  acres.  The  population  in  1870  amounted  to  3,515,- 
993.  At  present  this  State  has  twenty-four  Members 
of  Congress. 


358 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Pennsylvania  lies  in  the  third  judicial  circuit,  which 
is  composed  of  this  State  and  New  Jersey.  It  forms 
two  judicial  districts,  viz.:  the  Eastern  and  Western 
districts  of  Pennsylvania. 

There  are  two  collection  districts  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  consequently  two  ports  of  entry,  viz.:  Philadelphia 
and  Erie. 

Harrisburg  is  the  capital.  There  the  Legislature 
assembles  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  January ; the  State 
election  is  held  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  October. 

The  enacting  clause  of  her  laws  is : “ Be  it  enacted 
by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  in  General  Assembly 
met ; and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the 
same.” 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


William  Maclay, 

from 

1789  to  1791. 

Robert  Morris, 

a 

1789 

U 

1795. 

Albert  Gallatin, 

a 

1793 

a 

1794. 

James  Ross, 

a 

1794 

a 

1803. 

William  Bingham, 

u 

1795 

u 

1801. 

Peter  Muhlenburgh, 

u 

1801 

u 

1802. 

Samuel  Maclay, 

u 

1803 

u 

1808. 

Michael  Leib, 

a 

1808 

a 

1814. 

Andrew  Gregg, 

a 

1807 

u 

1813. 

Abner  Lacock, 

a 

1813 

a 

1819. 

Jonathan  Roberts, 

u 

1814 

a 

1821. 

Walter  Lawrie, 

a 

1819 

a 

1825. 

William  Findlay, 

a 

1821 

a 

1827. 

William  Marks, 

u 

1825 

a 

1831. 

Isaac  D.  Barnard, 

u 

1827 

u 

1831. 

George  M.  Dallas, 

u 

1831 

u 

1833. 

William  Wilkins, 

a 

1831 

u 

1834. 

Samuel  McKean, 

u 

1833 

a 

1839. 

INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


359 


James  Buchanan 
Daniel  Sturgeon 

Simon  Cameron, 

James  Cooper, 
Charles  R.  Buckalew, 
Richard  Broadhead, 
William  Bigler, 
Edgar  Cowan, 

David  Wilmot, 

John  Scott, 


from 

1834  to  1845. 

u 

1839  “ 1851. 

(1845  “ 1849. 

1857  “ 1861. 

(1867  “ 1873. 

u 

1849  “ 1855. 

u 

1863  “ 1869. 

u 

1851  “ 1857. 

a 

1855  “ 1861. 

u 

1861  “ 1867. 

u 

1861  “ 1863. 

u 

1869  “ 1875. 

RHODE  ISLAND. 


Rhode  Island  is  one  of  the  original  thirteen  States,  but 
had  no  delegates  in  the  Convention  which  formed  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States.  She  and  Delaware 
are  the  two  little  States,  Rhode  Island  being  the 
smallest  State  in  the  Union,  having  an  area  of  only 


360 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


1,306  square  miles,  which  make  835,840  acres.  Her 
population  in  1870  was  217,356.  She  has  at  present 
two  Members  of  Congress.  Rhode  Island  forms  part 
of  the  first  judicial  circuit,  which  consists  of  the 
States  of  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,  Hew  Hamp- 
shire and  Maine;  constitutes  one  judicial  district, 
called  the  district  of  Rhode  Island,  has  three  ports  of 
entry,  viz. : Newport,  Providence  and  Bristol,  and  also 
seven  ports  of  delivery. 

Small  as  this  State  is,  it  has  two  capitals  or  places 
where  the  Legislature  meets,  viz.:  Newport  and  Provi- 
dence. The  State  election  is  held  on  the  first  Wednes- 
day in  April.  The  Legislature  meets  twice  in  a year, 
in  May  and  January. 

The  style  of  her  laws,  or  the  enacting  clause  of  them 
is  as  follows : “ It  is  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly 
as  follows.” 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Theodore  Foster, 
Joseph  Stanton, 
William  Bradford, 
Ray  Green, 

Charles  Ellery, 
Samuel  L.  Potter, 
Benjamin  Howland, 
James  Fenner, 
Elisha  Matthewson, 
Frances  Malbone, 

C.  G.  Champlin, 
Jeremiah  B.  Howell, 
William  Hunter, 
James  Burrill, 

James  DWolf, 


from 

1790 

to  1803. 

44 

1790 

44 

1793. 

u 

1793 

44 

1797. 

44 

1797 

44 

1801. 

44 

1801 

44 

1805. 

44 

1803 

44 

1804. 

44 

1804 

44 

1809. 

44 

1805 

44 

1807. 

44 

1807 

44 

1811. 

44 

1809 

44 

1809. 

44 

1809 

44 

1811, 

44 

1811 

44 

1817. 

44 

1811 

44 

1831. 

44 

1817 

44 

1821. 

44 

1821 

44 

1825. 

INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


361 


Nehemiah  R.  Knight, 
Asher  Robbins, 
Nathan  F.  Dixon, 

James  P.  Simmons, 

"William  Sprague, 
John  1>  Francis, 
Albert  C.  Green, 

John  H.  Clarke, 
Charles  T.  James, 
Philip  Allen, 

Henry  B.  Anthony, 

William  Sprague, 
Samuel  G.  Arnold, 


from 

1821 

to 

1841. 

u 

1825 

66 

1839. 

u 

1839 

66 

1842. 

“ < 

f 1841 

66 

1847. 

(.1857 

66 

1862. 

u 

1842 

66 

1844. 

u 

1844 

66 

1845. 

66 

1845 

66 

1851. 

66 

1847 

66 

1853. 

66 

1851 

66 

1857. 

66 

1853 

66 

1859. 

66  ! 

f 1859 

66 

1865. 

1 

[ 1865 

66 

1877. 

66 

1862 

66 

1875. 

66 

1862 

66 

1863. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

South  Carolina  is  one  of  the  original  thirteen  States, 
and  has  an  area  of  29,385  square  miles,  which  make 
18,806,400  acres;  with  a population  in  1870,  of  728,- 


362 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


000,  (over  half  colored).  She  has  now  four  Members 
of  Congress. 

By  an  act  of  1866,  South  Carolina  was  located  in  the 
fourth  judicial  circuit;  it  is  divided  into  two  judicial 
districts,  called  the  Eastern  and  "Western  districts  of 
South  Carolina. 

There  are  three  collection  districts  in  this  State,  and 
four  ports  of  entry,  to-wit : Georgetown,  Charleston, 
Beaufort  and  Port  Royal ; but  no  ports  of  delivery. 

The  capital  is  Columbia.  The  State  elections  are 
held  on  the  fourth  Monday  of  November.  The  Legis- 
lature meets  on  the  third  Wednesday  of  October. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is  as  follows  : “Be 
it  enacted  by  the  Honorable  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives,  now  met  and  sitting  in  General  As- 
sembly, and  by  authority  of  the  same.” 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Pierce  Butler, 

Ralph  Izard, 

Jacob  Read, 

John  Hunter, 
Charles  Pinckney, 
Thomas  Sumpter, 
John  E.  Calhoun, 
John  Gaillard, 
John  Taylor, 

William  Smith, 

William  Harper, 
Robert  J.  Hayne, 
Stephen  D.  Miller, 

John  C.  Calhoun, 


from 

<< 

U 

U 

a 

u 

(6 

a 

u 

u 

u 

a 

a 

a 


/ 1790  to  1796. 
\ 1802  “ 1804. 
1789  “ 1795. 

1795  « 1801. 

1796  “ 1798. 
1798  “ 1801. 
1801  “ 1810. 
1801  “ 1802. 
1804  “ 1826. 
1810  “ 1816. 

/ 1816  “ 1823. 
\ 1826  “ 1831. 
1826  « 1826. 
1823  “ 1832. 
1831  “ 1833. 
/ 1832  “ 1842. 
1 1845  “ 1850. 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


363 


'William  C.  Preston,  from 
Daniel  E.  Huger,  “ 
George  McDuffie,  “ 
Andrew  P.  Butler,  “ 
Franklin  H.  Elmore,  “ 
Robert  W.  Barnwell,  “ 
William  Desaussure,  “ 
Josiah  Evans,  “ 

James  H.  Hammond,  “ 
James  Chestnut,  “ 
Arthur  P.  Hayne,  “ 
Thos.  J.  Robertson,  “ 
Frederick  A.  Sawyer,  “ 


1833  to  1842. 
1842  “ 1845. 
1842  “ 1846. 
1846  “ 1857. 
1850  “ 1850. 
1850  “ 1852. 
1852  “ 1852. 
1852  “ 1858. 

1857.  “ 1860. 
1858  “ 1861. 

1858. 

1868  “ 1877. 
1868  “ 1873. 


364 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


TENNESSEE. 


Tennessee  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  June  1st, 
1796,  and  made  the  sixteenth  State.  Its  area  is  45,600 
square  miles,  equal  to  29,184,000  acres.  The  population 
in  1870  numbered  1,257,983.  It  has  now  eight  Rep- 
resentatives in  Congress,  is  in  the  sixth  judicial  cir- 
cuit, forms  three  judicial  districts,  and  has  two  ports 
of  delivery,  Memphis  and  Knoxville.  Before  Tennes- 
see was  admitted  it  formed  a part  of  North  Carolina. 

Nashville  is  the  capital.  The  State  election  is  held 
on  the  first  Monday  in  August ; and  on  the  first 
Monday  of  October  the  Legislature  meets,  once  in  two 
years. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  of  this  State  is  as 
follows : “ Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  of  Tennessee.” 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


365 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


William  Blount, 
William  Cocke, 

Andrew  Jackson, 

Joseph  Anderson, 
Daniel  Smith, 

Jenkin  Whiteside, 
Geo.  W.  Campbell, 
Jesse  Wharton, 

John  Williams,  . 
John  H.  Eaton, 

Hugh  L.  White, 
Felix  Grundy, 

Ephraim  H.  Foster, 

A.  O.  P.  Nicholson, 
Alexander  Anderson, 
Spencer  Jarnagin, 
Hopkins  L.  Turney, 
John  Bell, 

James  C.  Jones, 
Andrew  Johnson 
David  T.  Patterson, 

J.  S.  Fowler, 

Wm.  G.  Brownlow, 
Henry  Cooper, 


from 

1796 

to  1797. 

“ -j 

f 1796 

66 

1797. 

[ 1799 

66 

1805. 

“ i 

f 1797 

66 

1798. 

L 1823 

66 

1825. 

66 

1797 

66 

1815. 

66 

1797 

66 

1809. 

u 

1809 

66 

1811. 

u 

1811 

66 

1818. 

u 

1814 

66 

1815. 

a 

1815 

66 

1823. 

u 

1818 

66 

1829. 

u 

1825 

66 

1840. 

u 

1829 

66 

1840. 

“ i 

f 1838 

66 

1839. 

[ 1843 

66 

1845. 

a 

1840 

66 

1843. 

u 

1840 

66 

1841. 

a 

1841 

66 

1847. 

66 

1845 

66 

1851. 

66 

1847 

66 

1853. 

66 

1851 

66 

1857. 

66 

1857 

66 

1863. 

66 

1865 

66 

1869. 

66 

1865 

66 

1871. 

66 

1869 

66 

1875.' 

66 

1871 

66 

1877. 

366 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


The  history  of  this  State  is  unlike  that  of  any  other 
belonging  to  the  Union.  It  is  not  one  of  the  original 
States ; neither  was  it  first  formed  into  a territory  and 
afterwards  changed  into  a State.  Down  to  1836,  Texas 
was  a part  of  Mexico ; at  that  time  the  people  of  this 
Mexican  province  or  colony  revolted  against  the 
Mexican  authority,  and,  after  a short  war  with  that 
power,  gained  their  independence  and  established  a 
government  of  their  own.  This  they  called  the  “ Re- 
public of  Texas.”  But  it  was  a small  and  feeble 
power,  and  could  not  sustain  itself  as  an  independent 
nation.  In  this  helpless  condition  she  applied  to  the 
United  States  government  for  permission  to  unite  her- 
self with  it.  The  request  was  listened  to  and  favora- 
bly received  by  the  United  States.  The  proposition 
was  accepted,  and  in  1845  Texas  was  admitted — mak- 
ing the  twenty- ninth  State — and  became  a part  of  the 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


367 


“ Great  Republic.”  Though  larger  than  five  such 
states  as  New  York,  she  has  continued  to  this  day  a 
single  State,  because  her  population  has  remained  so 
small.  But  in  the  act  of  admission  it  was  provided 
that  Texas  might  be  divided  into  four  new  States,  be- 
sides that  of  Texas,  making  five  in  all.  When  this 
shall  be  done,  all  will  be  large  States.  The  whole  area 
of  Texas  is. 237,504  square  miles,  which  make  152,002,- 
560  acres.  The  population  in  1870 — twenty  five  years 
after  her  admission — was  only  797,500.  She  has  at 
present  four  Members  of  Congress.  Texas  lies  in  the 
fifth  judicial  circuit,  and  makes  two  judicial  districts, 
the  eastern  and  western. 

There  are  three  collection  districts  in  this  State. 
The  respective  ports  of  entry  for  these  districts  are 
Galveston,  Lasalle  and  Brazos  Santiago.  To  these  are 
attached  nine  ports  of  delivery. 

The  capital  is  Austin,  where  the  Legislature  meets 
biennially  on  the  first  Monday  of  November.  The 
State  election  is  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  August, 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Thomas  F.  Rusk,  from 

Samuel  Houston,  “ 

Pinckney  J.  Henderson,  44 
Matthias  W ard,  “ 

John  Hemphill,  44 

Lewis  T.  Wigfall,  “ 

J.  W.  Flanagan,  44 

Morgan  C.  Hamilton,  44 


1846  to  1856. 
1846  “ 1859. 

1857  “ 1858. 

1858  “ 1861. 

1859  “ 1861. 
1859  “ 1861. 
1869  “ 1875. 
1871  44  1877. 


24 


368 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


VERMONT. 


Vermont  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  March  4th, 
1791,  making  the  fourteenth  State. 

It  has  an  area  of  10,212  square  miles,  equal  to  6,535,- 
680  acres.  The  population  in  1870  numbered  330,552. 
It  now  has  three  Representatives  in  Congress  ; forms 
part  of  the  second  judicial  circuit;  constitutes  one  ju- 
dicial district ; has  one  port  of  entry,  located  at  such 
place  as  may  he  named  by  the  President,  who  may 
also  designate  two  places  in  the  State  as  ports  of  de- 
livery. 

Vermont  was  the  first  new  State  admitted  into  the 
Union,  and  thus  made  the  fourteenth  State. 

Montpelier  is  the  capital.  The  State  election  is  held 
on  the  first  Tuesday  in  September,  and  the  Legisla- 
ture meets  on  the  second  Thursday  in  October. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  is:  “It  is  hereby 

enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ver- 
mont.” 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


369 


Vermont  has  usually  been  regarded  as  originally  a 
Slave  State,  and  credited  with  17  slaves  in  1790.  It  has 
recently  been  developed  through  an  examination  of  the 
original  returns,  that  there  was  that  number  of  persons 
of  color  in  the  State  at  that  time,  but  they  were  not 
slaves. 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Moses  Robinson, 

Stephen  R.  Bradley, 

Elijah  Paine, 

Isaac  Tichenor, 

Nathaniel  Chipman, 

Israel  Smith, 

Jonathan  Robinson, 

Dudley  Chase, 

James  Fisk, 

William  A.  Palmer, 
Horatio  Seymour, 
Samuel  Prentiss, 
Benjamin  Swift, 
Samuel  S.  Phelps, 
Samuel  C.  Crafts, 
William  Upham, 
Solomon  Foote, 
Samuel  S.  Phelps, 
Brainard  Lawrence, 
Jacob  Collamer, 
LukeP.  Poland, 
George  F.  Edmunds, 
Justin  S.  Morrill, 


>m 

1791  to  1796. 

“ J 

f 1791  “ 1795. 

1 

[ 1801  « 1813. 

a 

1795  “ 1801. 

a J 

f 1796  “ 1797. 

1 

[ 1815  “ 1821. 

u 

1797  “ 1803. 

u J 

f 1801  “ 1802. 

1 

[ 1803  “ 1807. 

u 

1807  “ 1815. 

u J 

\ 1813  « 1817. 

1 

{ 1825  “ 1831. 

u 

1817  “ 1817. 

u 

1818  “ 1825. 

u 

1821  “ 1833. 

u 

1831  “ 1842. 

a 

1833  “ 1839. 

a 

1839  « 1851. 

u 

1842  “ 1843. 

a 

1843  “ 1855. 

a 

1851  “ 1866. 

u 

1853  “ 1854. 

a 

1854  « 1855. 

u 

1854  “ 1865. 

u 

1865  « 1867. 

a 

1866  “ 1875. 

u 

1867  “ 1873. 

370 


OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


VIRGINIA. 

Virginia  is  also  one  of  the  original  thirteen  States, 
and  had  an  area  previous  to  the  division  in  1862, 
of  61,352  square  miles,  equal  to  39,265,280  acres;  but 
after  West  Virginia  was  set  off  as  a separate  State,  there 
were  but  38,352  square  miles  left  of  this  once  great 
State,  equal  to  24,545,280  acres. 

The  population  in  1860  amounted  to  1,596,318.  This 
State  has  at  present  eleven  Members  of  Congress.  By 
the  division  the  number  of  Representatives  was  cut 
down  to  eight ; the  new  State  receiving  three  out  of 
the  eleven.  Population  in  1870, 1,224,880. 

Virginia  lies  in  the  fourth  judicial  circuit,  which  by 
the  act  of  1866  was  composed  of  this  State,  Maryland, 
West  Virginia,  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina. 
There  were  two  judicial  districts  in  this  State,  anterior 
to  the  division,  the  Eastern  and  the  Western.  There 
is  now  but  one. 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


371 


There  were  also  twelve  collection  districts  in  this  State, 
and  twelve  ports  of  entry,  all  of  which  remain  the  same 
as  they  were  before  West  Virginia  was  cut  off,  forthey 
were  all  located  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  or  on  the  bays 
and  rivers  running  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean  ; there  are 
also  ten  ports  of  delivery. 

Richmond  is  the  capital.  The  State  election  is  held 
on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November. 
The  Legislature  meets  on  the  first  Monday  in  Decem- 
ber. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  laws  of  Virginia  is  : “ Be 
it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly.” 

When  the  United  States  government  was  formed, 
Virginia  was  the  largest,  most  populous  and  influen- 
tial State  in  the  Union.  But  after  1810  she  fell  behind 
New  York  in  population  ; and  in  1860,  she  had  fallen 
to  the  fifth  position  in  this  respect.  The  division  has 
reduced  her  much  below  that  point. 

This  State  is  often  called  “ the  Old  Dominion,”  be- 
cause it  was  first  settled  by  whites  after  the  discovery 
of  America,  an  English  colony  being  planted  here  in 
1607. 

“ The  Mother  of  Presidents,”  is  another  appellation 
often  given  to  her,  because  . four  of  the  Presidents  were 
Virginians,  viz. : Washington,  Jefferson,  Madison  and 
Monroe.  She  was  also  the  birthplace  of  several  others, 
viz.  : Jackson,  Harrison  and  Tyler. 

“ The  Old  Dominion”  is  now  divided  into  two  States, 
Virginia  and  West  Virginia.  Her  political  power  and 
influence  have  dwindled  greatly. 


372 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


William  Grayson, 
Richard  H.  Lee, 

John  Walker, 

James  Monroe, 

John  Taylor, 

Stephen  T.  Mason, 
John  Tazewell, 

Wilson  C.  Nichols, 
Abraham  B.  Tenable, 
William  B.  Giles, 
Andrew  Moore, 
Richard  Brent, 

James  Barbour, 
Armistead  T.  Mason, 
John  W.  Eppes, 

James  Pleasant, 

John  Randolph, 
Littleton  W.  Tazewell, 
John  Tyler, 

William  C.  Rives, 

Benjamin  W.  Leigh, 
Richard  E.  Parker, 
William  H.  Roane, 
William  S.  Archer, 
Isaac  S.  Pennybacker, 
James  M.  Mason, 

R.  M.  T.  Hunter, 

John  W.  Johnston, 
John  F.  Lewis, 


from 

1789  to  1790. 

ll 

1789 

LL 

1792. 

ll 

1790 

LL 

1790. 

u 

1790 

LL 

1794. 

\ 

(1792 

LL 

1794. 

“ < 

1803 

LL 

1805. 

(1822 

LL 

1824. 

ll 

1794 

LL 

1803. 

ll 

1794 

LL 

1799. 

ll 

1799 

LL 

1804. 

u 

1803 

LL 

1804. 

ll 

1804 

LL 

1815. 

LL 

1804 

LL 

1809. 

CL 

1809 

LL 

1815. 

u 

1815 

LL 

1825. 

LL 

1816 

LL 

1817. 

LL 

1817 

LL 

1819. 

LL 

1819 

LL 

1822. 

LL 

1825 

LL 

1827. 

LL 

1824 

LL 

1832. 

LL 

1827 

LL 

1836. 

f 1832 

LL 

1834. 

[ 1836 

LL 

1845. 

LL 

1834 

LL 

1836. 

LL 

1836 

LL 

1837. 

LL 

1837 

LL 

1841. 

LL 

1841 

LL 

1847. 

LL 

1845 

LL 

1847. 

LL 

1847 

LL 

1861. 

LL 

1847 

LL 

1861. 

LL 

1870 

LL 

1877. 

LL 

1870 

LL 

1875. 

INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


373 


WEST  VIRGINIA. 

There  is  a peculiarity  in  the  description  of  this  new 
State.  It  formed  a part  of  one  of  the  original  thir- 
teen States,  hut  is  yet  a new  State,  and  was  admitted 
fully  in  1863.  Although  the  act  of  Congress  making 
it  a State  was  passed  on  the  31st  of  December,  1862, 
it  was  with  the  proviso  that  it  should  not  take  effect 
until  60  days  after  a proclamation  issued  by  the  Presi- 
dent, giving  notice  to  the  world  that  West  Virginia 
had  been  admitted  as  a sovereign  State,  and  that  it 
formed  one  of  the  United  States  of  America.  This 
proclamation  was  issued  by  President  Lincoln  April 
21st,  1863,  and  on  June  20th,  the  State  was  formally 
admitted  to  representation  in  the  National  Govern- 
ment. Previous  to  this  there  had  been  a temporary 
State  Government,  dating  from  May  1862,  but  with- 
out representation  in  Congress. 

This  is  the  only  case  in  which  a State  has  been  divi- 


374  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

ded.  The  Constitution  contains  a provision  for  making 
such  division  in  case  it  should  be  desirable,  and  upon 
certain  conditions,  which  were  complied  with  in  this 
case.  As  stated  in  another  place,  this  event  grew  out 
of  the  late  war.  Virginia  seceded  with  others  of  the 
slave  States;  but  that  part  of  the  State  lying  west 
of  the  Alleghany  mountains,  consisting  of  forty-eight 
counties,  refused  to  go  with  the  eastern  part,  seceded 
from  it,  and  set  up  a separate  State  government,  which 
was  then  recognized  by  Congress,  and  admitted  into 
the  Union.  Thus  West  Virginia  became  anew  State, 
made  out  of  an  old  one.  When  admitted,  it  made  the 
thirty-fifth  State.  It  has  an  area  of  23,000  square 
miles,  equal  to  14,720,000  acres. 

The  population,  in  1870,  was  445,616.  This  State  has 
now  three  Members  of  Congress.  West  Virginia  was 
subsequently  put  into  the  fourth  judicial  circuit,  and 
constitutes  one  judicial  district.  Parkersburg,  also, 
was  made  a port  of  delivery. 

Charleston  is  the  capital.  The  State  election  is  held 
on  the  fourth  Thursday  in  October.  The  Legislature 
meets  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  January. 

UNITER  STATES  SENATORS. 


Peter  G,  Van  Winkle, 
Waitman  T.  Willey, 
Arthur  J.  Boreman, 
II.  G.  Davis, 


from  1863  to  1869. 

“ 1863  “ 1871. 

“ 1868  “ 1875. 

“ 1871  “ 1877. 


INDIVIDUAL  STATES. 


375 


Wisconsin  was  admitted  as  a State  on  the  29th  of 
May,  1848,  and  made  the  thirtieth  State.  It  has  an 
area  of  52,924  square  miles,  equal  to  34,511,360  acres. 
In  1860  the  population  amounted  to  775,881.  She 
has  now  six  Members  of  Congress.  Wisconsin  lies  in 
the  seventh  judicial  circuit,  (which  is  composed  of  Wis- 
consin, Indiana  and  Illinois,)  and  forms  one  judicial  dis- 
trict. It  has  one  collection  district,  one  port  of  entry, 
(Milwaukee,)  and  five  ports  of  delivery,  viz. : South- 
port,  Racine,  Sheboygan,  Green  Bay  and  Depere. 

The  capital  of  the  State  is  Madison.  The  Legisla- 
ture meets  on  the  second  Wednesday  in  January.  The 
State  election  is  on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday 
in  November. 

The  enacting  clause  of  her  laws  is  as  follows  : “ The 
people  of  Wisconsin,  represented  in  Senate  and  As- 
sembly, do  enact  as  follows.” 


UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 


Henry  Dodge, 
Isaac  P.  Walker, 
Charles  Durkee, 
James  R.  Doolittle, 
Timothy  O.  Howe, 
M.  H.  Carpenter, 


from  1848  to  1857. 

“ 1848  “ 1855. 

“ 1855  “ 1861. 

“ 1857  “ 1869. 

“ 1861  “ 1873. 

“ 1869  “ 1875. 


376 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XCI. 

Names  and  Mottoes  of  the  States. 

ALABAMA — So  called  from  tlie  Indian  name  of  her  principal 
river,  meaning  “ here-we-rest.”  Has  no  familiar  name. 

ARKANSAS — Called  after  the  Indian  name  of  her  principal 
river.  Has  the  familiar  name  of  “ Bear  State.”  Her  motto,  Reg- 
nant Populi,  means  “ the  people  rule.” 

CALIFORNIA — Named  from  the  great  gulf  on  her  coast,  is  called 
the  “ Golden  State,”  and  her  Greek  motto,  Eureka , means  *■ 1 1 have 
found  it.” 

CONNECTICUT  — The  “Nutmeg  State,”  is  named  from  her 
principal  river,  which,  in  the  Indian  tongue,  means  “the  long  river  ” 
Her  Latin  motto  means,  “ He  who  has  transferred,  sustains.” 

DELAWARE — Named  in  honor  of  Lord  Delaware,  is  called  the 
“ Blue  Hen.” 

FLORIDA — Named  from  the  profusion  of  flowers  found  there. 

GEORGIA — Was  named  in  honor  of  George  II,  King  of  Eng- 
land. 

ILLINOIS — The  “Sucker”  or  “ Prairie  State,”  is  named  from 
her  principal  river. 

INDIANA — Has  the  familiar  name  of  “ Hoosier  State.” 

IOWA— Is  the  “ Hawk-Eye  State.” 

KANSAS — Means  “ Smoky  Water,”  and  her  Latin  motto  means 
“ to  the  stars  through  difficulties.” 

KENTUCKY — The  “ Blue-Grass  State,”  hears  the  name  of  her 
principal  river. 

LOUISIANA  — Called  in  honor  of  Louis  XIV,  of  France,  is 
known  as  the  “ Creole  State.” 

MAINE — Named  from  a province  in  France,  is  called  “the  Pino 
Tree  State.” 

MARYLAND — Was  named  in  honor  of  the  wife  of  Charles  I, 
King  of  England.  Her  Latin  motto  means  “ increase  and  multi- 
ply.” 

MASSACHUSETTS — From  the  great  hay  on  her  coast,  is  called 
the  “ Bay  State.”  Her  Latin  motto  is  translated,  “ With  the  sword 
he  seeks  placid  rest  in  liberty.” 

MICHIGAN — Named  from  the  great  lake  on  her  northern  and 
western  border,  has  for  her  familiar  name  “ the  Wolverine  State.” 


FAMILIAR  NAMES  OF  THE  STATES. 


877 


Her  Latin  motto,  Tuebor,  means  “ 1 will  defend.’ ’ The  other  Latin 
words  are  translated,  “ If  you  seek  a beautiful  peninsula,  look  around 
you.” 

MINNESOTA — Means  “ Whitish  Water.”  Her  French  motto 
means  “ North  Star.” 

MISSISSIPPI — Is  named  after  the  river  of  that  name,  “ the  Fa- 
ther of  Waters.” 

MISSOURI — Named  from  the  river,  which  means  “ Muddy  Wa- 
ter.” Her  Latin  motto  means  “ the  highest  law  shall  be  the  safety 
of  the  people.” 

NEBRASKA — Named  from  her  principal  river. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE — Named  after  Hampshire  in  England,  is 
called  the  “ Granite  State.” 

NEW  JERSEY — Was  named  after  the  Island  of  Jersey. 

NEW  YORK — Named  in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  York,  of  Eng- 
land, is  called  the  “Empire  State.”  Her  motto  means  “ more  ex- 
cellent.” 

NORTH  CAROLINA  — The  “Old  North”  or  “Turpentine 
State,”  was  named  in  honor  of  Charles  IX,  of  France. 

NEVADA — Was  called  after  the  range  of  mountains  in  the  State. 
Her  Latin  motto  means  “ willing  and  able.” 

OHIO — Called  from  the  river  of  that  name,  is  known  as  the 
“ Buckeye  State.”  Its  motto  means  “ An  Empire  in  an  Empire.” 

OREGON — Is  called  after  its  principal  river. 

PENNSYLVANIA — Was  named  after  William  Penn.  Her  fa- 
miliar name  is  “ the  Keystone  State.” 

RHODE  ISLAND — “ Little  Rhody,”  has  “Hope”  for  her  motto. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA — Derived  its  name  like  North  Carolina, 
and  is  known  as  “ the  Palmetto  State.” 

TENNESSEE-was  named  after  her  river,  and  is  known  as  “ the 
Big  Bend  State/' 

TEXAS — Retains  its  Mexican  name,  and  is  known  as  “ the  Lone 
Star  State.” 

VERMONT — Derives  its  name  from  two  French  words,  Verd 
Mont , meaning  Green  Mountain — and  that  is  her  familiar  name. 

VIRGINIA — Named  after  the  virgin  Queen  Elizabeth,  of  Eng- 
land, is  called  “ the  Old  Dominion.”  Her  motto  means,  “So,  al- 
ways, with  tyrants,”  and  is  symbolized  in  her  coat  of  arms. 

WEST  VIRGINIA — Was  named  from  the  old  State.  Her  Latin 
motto  means,  “ Mountaineers  are  always  freemen.” 

WISCONSIN — Is  named  from  her  principal  river,  and  is  called 
M the  Badger  State.” 


Population  of  the  United  States  and  Territories  from  1790  to  1870. 


378 


\ 

OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Pr.  du  Chien 


STATISTICS  OF  POPULATION. 


379 


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equal  to  that  of  the  thirteen  States  of  Connecticut,  Arkansas,  West  Virginia,  Minnesota,  Kansas,  Vermont,  New  Hamp- 
shire, Rhode  Island,  Florida,  Delaware,  Nebraska,  Oregon  and  Nevada.  We  may  here  add,  for  the  further  information  of 
the  reader,  that  the  aggregate  population  of  the  six  New  England  States  of  Massachusetts,  Maine,  Connecticut,  New 
Hampshire,  Vermont  and  Rhode  Island,  falls  considerably  short  of  that  of  Pennsylvania.  The  States  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, including  the  Pacific  States,  have  about  one-sixth  of  the  whole  population  of  the  United  States. 


380 


OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XCHI, 

Territories. 

Until  a very  recent  date  there  has  been,  west  of  the 
States,  a vast  uninhabited  stretch  of  country,  extend- 
ing to  the  Pacific  ocean.  This  territory,  however,  was 
constantly  becoming  less  as  the  people  pushed  out  from 
the  inhabited  portions  into  these  almost  boundless  and 
unoccupied  regions.  This  process  has  been  going  on 
ever  since  order  was  established  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  But  it  was  the  discovery  of  rich 
mines  of  gold  and  silver  in  this  western  wilderness 
that  gave  emigration  thither  an  unprecedented  impulse. 
"Within  the  past  twenty  years,  heretofore  unexplored, 
uninhabited,  and  almost  unknown  regions  have  become 
peopled.  States  have  grown  out  of  them,  and  the 
whole  of  this  almost  interminable  waste  has  been  ex- 
plored and  surveyed.  Boundary  lines  have  been  fixed 
and  Territorial  governments  established,  so  that  no 
part  now  lies  outside  of  an  organized  local  govern- 
ment. Every  spot  of  this  heretofore  trackless  desert 
may  now  be  localized  and  described  as  a part  of  some 
State  or  well-defined  territory. 

Having  given  a brief  account  of  the  States  now  in 
the  Union,  it  remains  for  us  to  give  a similar  account 
of  the  Territories. 

These  Territories  we  give  as  they  exist  at  the  present 
time,  (1871).  After  a few  years,  several,  if  not  all 
of  them  may  become  States.  Besides  from  their  im- 
mense size,  (as  may  be  seen  by  looking  at  their  areas, 
(shown  below,)  they  will  probably  be  divided  into  two 
or  three  parts,  and  these  parts  will  receive  new  names, 
and  finally  come  in  as  States.  Each  one  of  the  most 


TERRITORIES. 


381 


of  them  contains  land  enough  to  make  three  States, 
larger  than  the  average  size  of  those  now  iti  the  Union. 
And  in  estimating  the  number  there  will  be  when  all 
the  existing  Territories  shall  be  formed  into  conveni- 
ently-sized States,  we  may  safely  say  there  will  yet  be 
added  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  new  ones,  although 
we  should  not  enlarge  our  boundaries  by  the  acquisition 
of  any  new  territory. 

The  following  is  a list  of  all  the  remaining  Territo- 
ries, placed  in  the  order  of  the  times  when  their  Terri- 
torial governments  were  formed  by  acts  of  Congress  : 


Name. 

Sq.  Miles. 

Pop.  in  ’70. 

Capital. 

New  Mexico, 

124,500 

91,852 

Santa  Fe. 

Utah, 

108,000 

86,786 

Salt  Lake  City. 

Washington, 

70,000 

23,901 

Olympia. 

Dakota, 

240,000 

14,181 

Yankton. 

Arizona, 

121,000 

9,658 

Tucson. 

Idaho, 

90,000 

14,998 

Boise  City. 

Montana, 

153,800 

20,594 

Virginia  City. 

Colorado, 

106,475 

39,706 

Denver. 

Indian, 

71,000 

Tahlequah. 

Wyoming, 

100,500 

9,118 

Cheyenne. 

Alaska, 

394,000 

24,000 

Sitka. 

District  of  Columbia, 

60 

131,706 

W ashington. 

In  this  brief  statement  we  do  not  notice  any  of  the 
laws  made  for  their  government,  or  the  officers  ap- 
pointed to  administer  it.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  they 
have  a Governor,  Secretary  and  judges  of  their  courts, 
who  are  appointed  by  the  President,  by  and  with  the 
consent  of  the  Senate.  The  laws  organizing  their  Ter- 
ritorial governments  are  of  course  enacted  by  Con- 
gress ; and  so  are  all  the  general  laws  relating  to  their 
administration.  But  they  are  allowed  to  elect  and  or- 
ganize a Territorial  Legislature,  and  to  regulate  their 
own  internal  affairs.  The  laws  of  Congress,  and  all 
the  provisions  made  by  it,  or  by  their  Territorial  legis- 
lation, and  all  the  officers  appointed  to  administer  them, 
are  of  a temporary  character,  are  made  only  for  a tem- 
porary government,  and  all  disappear  as  soon  as  the 
Territory  is  admitted  as  a State. 


382 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XCIY. 

Indian  Territory. 

This  part  of  the  United  States  requires  a special  no- 
tice, because  it  differs  widely  from  any  other.  While 
it  is  located  within  our  own  boundaries,  it  is  in  some 
respects  like  a foreign  country,  and  its  inhabitants  like 
foreigners ; yet  it  is  not  a foreign  country,  but  a do- 
mestic dependency,  and  the  various  tribes  inhabiting 
it  are  domestic  dependent  nations,  if  we  dignify  small 
tribes  of  savages  by  such  a sounding  title.  The  Indian 
Territory  lies  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  west  of  the 
State  of  Arkansas,  and  north  of  Texas,  and  is  of  large 
dimensions,  containing  no  less  than  71,127  square 
miles,  or  45,521,280  acres.  The  United  States  govern- 
ment, finding  that  there  were  frequent  collisions,  broils 
and  difficulties,  and  sometimes  wars  between  the 
wdiites  and  Indians,  while  in  close  proximity  to  each 
other,  in  some  instances  persuaded  the  Indians,  and  in 
some  cases  compelled  them  to  leave  their  homes  and 
lands,  and  remove  to  this  Territory,  where  they  could 
live  more  apart  from  the  whites,  and  enjoy  their  own 
laws  and  customs  without  molestation  from  white 
neighbors.  This  Territory  has  thus  become  the 
residence  of  a number  of  tribes,  each  having  its 
own  section  of  country  within  the  Territory,  or  Indian 
country.  Here  the  United  States  exercise  no  author- 
ity over  them,  excepting  in  certain  crimes  perpetrated 
by  them  against  the  whites.  Of  crimes  committed  by 
Indians  against  Indians,  it  takes  no  cognizance.  For 
this  purpose,  the  Indian  Territory  is  annexed  to  the 
judicial  district  of  the  adjoining  States,  (viz. : to  Ar- 


INDIAN  TERRITORY. 


383 


kansas  and  Missouri,)  that  they  may  be  tried  and  pun- 
ished by  the  United  States  circuit  and  district  courts 
when  sitting  in  these  districts.  They  are  allowed  to 
live  under  their  own  laws,  follow  their  own  customs, 
and  indulge  in  their  own  modes  of  life.  The  land  has 
been  ceded  to  the  Indians,  each  tribe  owning  the  por- 
tion allotted  to  it  by  the  United  States.  It  is  quite 
probable  that  after  the  Indians  have  reached  a higher 
grade  of  civilization,  and  become  more  assimilated  to 
the  customs  and  usages  of  the  white  people,  that  they 
will  apply  to  Congress  for  admittance  into  the  family 
of  States,  and  become  an  integral  part  of  the  United 
States.  But  at  present  they  occupy  this  semi-isolated 
condition,  are  under  our  protection,  and  partially  under 
our  criminal  laws.  The  United  States  would  protect 
them  against  foreign  invasion  or  harm,  in  case  inter- 
ference should  be  attempted.  The  government  pro- 
tects them  against  our  own  people  ; for  it  will  not  al- 
low them  to  trade  with,  nor  even  to  go  among  them 
without  permission.  The  provision  made  by  the 
United  States  for  the  preservation  and  well-being  of 
the  Indians,  by  assigning  them  a location  in  the  Indian 
Territory,  does  not,  however,  include  all  the  Indian 
tribes  ; those  now  inhabiting  this  Territory  are  princi- 
pally from  the  tribes  east  of  the  Mississippi  river ; 
many  tribes  west  of  that  river  still  remain  in  their  orig- 
inal homes,  or  have  moved  to  certain  localities  which 
have  been  reserved  for  them,  called  Indian  reserva- 
tions, where  they  are  protected  by  Indian  agents  ap- 
pointed by  the  government  for  this  purpose,  and  also 
to  look  after  other  Indian  affairs. 

The  population  of  the  Territory  at  the  last  census 
was  9,761 ; while  the  whole  number  of  Indians  in  the 
United  States  amounts  to  about  300,000. 


384 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XCV. 

The  Wars  of  the  United  States. 

1.  So  many  acts  of  the  government,  and  so  many 
laws  of  Congress  have  had  especial  reference  to  the 
wars  in  which  the  country  has  been  involved,  that  it 
will  throw  much  light  upon  them  to  give  a very  brief 
historical  sketch  of  the  different  wars  in  which  the 
United  States  have  been  engaged. 

2.  The  first  in  order  of  time,  and  in  the  results  which 
followed,  is  the  Revolutionary  war,  as  it  is  called  in 
our  own  country.  This  war  was  begun  and  consum- 
mated, however,  before  our  government  existed  ; for 
it  wras  fought  for  the  express  purpose  of  gaining  the 
power  to  establish  a government  for  ourselves.  This 
the  people  could  not  do  while  they  were  under  the 
power  of  the  English  government,  which  oppressed  them 
with  bad  laws,  and  with  corrupt  and  oppressive  admin- 
istration. Petitions  for  relief,  and  strong  remon- 
strances against  such  oppression,  proved  utterly  abortive. 
The  people  resorted  to  arms  with  a firm  determination 
to  redress  their  wrongs  by  force,  as  all  other  means 
had  failed. 

3.  This  statement  gives  the  reasons  for  this  war.  It 
commenced  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775 — or  rather,  on 
that  day  the  first  blood  was  spilt.  Some  preparations 
had  been  previously  made,  since  it  had  been  seen  for 
some  time  that  the  stubborn  acts  of  the  English  gov- 
ernment, and  the  determination  of  the  people  to  redress 
their  greivances,  would  pretty  certainly  lead  to  a con- 
test. 


'wars  of  the  united  states.  385 

4;  This  war  lasted  seven  years,  and  was  attended 
with  varied  success.  The  colonies  were  poor,  the  pop- 
ulation small,  and  to  many  it  appeared  preposterous  to 
contend  with  the  power  of  the  mother  country,  which 
was  rich  in  money  and  means  to  subdue  the  rebellion, 
as  she  termed  this  uprising  of  the  people  to  vindicate 
their  rights.  There  were  other  causes  which  pro- 
tracted the  struggle,  and  which  caused  more  blood  to 
be  shed  than  the  battles  with  the  British  armies  would 
have  cost,  had  all  the  people  in  the  colonies  been 
united,  which  was  not  the  case.  Numbers  of  them  op- 
posed the  war,  adhered  to  the  old  government,  even 
took  up  arms  on  the  side  of  England,  and  did  all  in 
their  power  to  assist  her  in  her  efforts  to  put  the  colo- 
nies down.  These  men  rendered  material  aid  to  the 
British  during  the  whole  period  of  the  contest.  They 
were  then,  and  have  ever  since  been  called  Tories ; 
which  meant  enemies  to  their  own  country.  They 
made  themselves  extremely  odious  to  the  people,  and 
the  name  has  been  a term  of  reproach  ever  since. 

5.  But  this  was  not  all.  Besides  the  power  of  Eng- 
land, against  which  the  people  had  to  contend,  the 
English,  by  means  of  presents,  induced  the  Indians, 
who  were  numerous  at  that  time,  to  join  them.  This 
stratagem  not  only  afforded  much  assistance  to  the 
English  government,  but  added  the  horrors  of  savage 
barbarity  to  the  war.  The  Indians  not  only  went  into 
battle  with  the  English,  but  laid  in  ambush,  watching 
and  shooting  the  people  wherever  they  could  find 
them. 

But  all  the  power  of  Great  Britain,  aided  by  her  par- 


386  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

tisans  here,  and  by  her  savage  allies,  availed  not.  The 
bloody  struggle  went  on  till  victory  crowned  the 
efforts  of  the  colonies.  Under  the  leadership  of 
"Washington,  the  Revolution  was  completed,  a new 
nationality  was  created,  and  a new  government  took 
its  place  in  the  family  of  nations. 

THE  SECOND  WAR. 

6.  Not  more  than  ten  years  had  elapsed  since  the 
close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  with  England,  before  a 
serious  difficulty  occurred  between  the  United  States 
and  France,  which  had  been  our  friend  and  ally  during 
the  struggle  for  independence.  We  say  it  was  a seri- 
ous difficulty,  for  it  came  very  near  involving  the  two 
countries  in  a destructive  contest.  But  by  the  dis- 
creet and  wise  management  of  our  government,  noth- 
ing more  than  some  hostile  encounters  at  sea  occurred, 
after  which  the  two  nations  came  to  a good  under- 
standing, and  no  further  hostile  acts  were  perpetrated 
on  either  side.  Before  this  the  French  government 
authorized  the  capture  of  American  vessels.  This  was 
done  in  several  instances ; therefore  Congress  author- 
ized American  vessels  to  retaliate  upon  the  French, 
and  all  treaties  with  France  were  declared  void. 

7.  But  why  this  hostility  between  those  who  recently 
were  such  firm  friends  ? This  may  be  explained ; 
France  was  at  war  with  England,  and  she  wished  to  in- 
volve the  United  States  in  her  controversy.  She 
wanted  us  to  assist  her  because  she  assisted  us  ; quite 
a plausible  reason ; but  President  Washington,  and 
many  others  of  the  wisest  and  best  men  in  the  country 
disapproved  of  commencing  another  war  with  England, 


WARS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


887 


or  of  aiding  her  enemies  so  soon  after  we  had  con- 
cluded a peace  with  her.  Besides,  we  were  weak 
then ; our  resources  almost  exhausted,  and  we  were 
deeply  in  debt.  Washington’s  policy  prevailed,  and 
the  nation  escaped  another  war  with  our  ancient 
enemy.  France  disliked  this,  and  for  a few  years  was 
quite  hostile  to  us;  but  wiser  counsels  finally  prevailed, 
and  friendly  relations  were  again  established  between 
the  two  nations. 

THE  THIRD  WAR. 

8.  The  third  war,  although  hardly  entitled  to  so 
sounding  a name — for  it  was  rather  a fight  with  pi- 
rates— commenced  in  1801,  with  Tripoli,  one  of  the 
piratical  Barbary  powers  of  the  north  of  Africa.  She, 
with  Morocco  and  Algiers,  undertook  a system  of  rob- 
bery upon  all  vessels  trading  up  the  Mediterranean 
sea,  by  demanding  tribute  for  the  privilege  of  navigat- 
ing that  sea.  It  was  an  assumption  of  power  that 
could  not  be  better  explained  than  to  call  it  piratical. 
They  undertook  to  enforce  these  most  unrighteous  de- 
mands by  capturing  the  ships,  and  imprisoning  their 
crews,  if  they  refused  to  comply.  They  tried  the 
game  on  our  vessels,  captured  several,  and  imprisoned 
their  seamen.  This  was  rather  more  than  our  govern- 
ment was  disposed  to  endure ; so  it  dispatched  a 
squadron  of  ships  under  Commodore  Preble,  who  had 
a fight  with  some  of  their  vessels,  knocked  them  to 
pieces,  bombarded  their  town,  and  made  them  deliver 
up  all  the  American  prisoners.  These  energetic  pro- 
ceedings soon  humbled  the  barbarians,  and  compelled 
them  to  relinquish  their  nefarious  practice  of  demand- 


388  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

ing  tribute  from  American  or  any  other  vessels  that 
traded  up  the  Mediterranean  sea. 

THE  FOURTH  WAR. 

9.  This  broke  out  in  1812,  and  in  our  histories  and 
conversations  is  generally  called  the  war  of  1812,  be- 
cause it  was  commenced  in  that  year.  This  was  our 
second  war  with  England,  and  lasted  nearly  three 
years.  The  reasons  for  it  were  very  different  from 
those  which  brought  on  the  first ; and  may  be  given 
as  follows : England  claimed  the  right  to  board  our 
ships,  either  national  or  private,  wherever  she  found 
them,  and  to  search  them  under  pretense  of  searching 
for  her  seamen,  who  had  deserted  from  their  vessels, 
and  were  now  employed  on  board  of  ours  ; and  also 
for  men  who  had  once  been  subjects  of  the  British 
government,  but  had  subsequently  emigrated  to 
America,  and  became  citizens  of  the  United  States. 
This  right  she  claimed  and  actually  enforced  on  many 
occasions,  by  carrying  off  every  man  of  this  descrip- 
tion she  found  on  board  our  ships,  upon  the  assump- 
tion that  if  a man  had  ever  been  a subject  of  hers  he 
must  always  remain  so  ; and  that  he  had  no  right  to  be- 
come a citizen  of  any  other  country : we  did  not  subscribe 
to  such  a doctrine,  but  held  that  if  any  body  wished  to 
expatriate  himself  from  his  own  country,  and  to  be- 
come a citizen  of  ours,  he  had  a perfect  right  to  do  so, 
and  that  when  he  did,  it  was  as  much  the  duty  of  our 
government  to  protect  him  as  it  was  to  protect  a na- 
tive citizen. 

10.  Such  antagonistic  principles,  if  carried  into  ac- 
tion as  they  were  by  the  English,  must  necessarily  end 


WARS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


389 


in  an  appeal  to  arms.  On  the  19th  of  June,  in  con- 
formity with  an  act  of  Congress,  the  President  pro- 
claimed war  with  England. 

The  contest,  with  varied  success  on  both  sides,  was 
continued  until  the  8th  of  January,  1815,  the  day  on 
which  General  Jackson  defeated  the  British  at  New 
Orleans.  Soon  after,  news  reached  the  United  States 
that  the  American  and  English  commissioners,  who 
had  met  at  Ghent,  had,  on  the  24th  of  December,  1814, 
concluded  a treaty  of  peace.  As  soon  as  this  was 
known,  hostilities  ceased  on  land.  Several  battles  oc- 
curred at  sea  after  this,  for  the  news  of  peace  did  not 
reach  the  contestants  until  some  time  after  it  was 
known  at  home.  By  the  treaty  of  Ghent,  simply  a 
treaty  of  peace  was  negotiated,  seemingly  because  both 
parties  had  become  tired  of  the  war.  The  issue  upon 
which  the  war  broke  out,  was  left  unsettled  by  the 
commissioners,  who  ignored  that  question,  but  agreed 
to  stop  fighting.  England  has  not  since  enforced  her 
doctrine  of  the  right  to  search  our  vessels,  and  to  carry 
off  our  men,  although  they  may  have  once  been  her 
subjects.  The  war  was  prosecuted  principally  on  the 
seas,  where  a number  of  severe  naval  battles  were 
fought,  and  many  captures  of  ships  made  on  both  sides. 
Although  England  had  a far  more  powerful  navy  than 
we  had,  yet  in  victories  and  captures  the  odds  were  on 
our  side. 

THE  FIFTH  WAR. 

11.  The  fifth  war  was  that  with  Mexico.  It  com- 
menced on  the  26th  of  April,  1846,  and  grew  out  of 
the  annexation  of  Texas  (early  in  1845),  to  the  United 


390  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

States.  Mexico  had  not  yet  entirely  abandoned  her 
claim  to,  and  authority  over  Texas,  which  had  so  re- 
cently revolted  against  her  government.  She  could 
not  but  look  with  great  disapprobation  and  jealousy 
upon  the  action  of  the  United  States  in  taking  her  re- 
volted province  under  their  protection,  and  then  an- 
nexing it  to  their  own  dominions.  The  people  of 
Texas  were  afraid  that  Mexico  would  make  an  attempt 
to  regain  possession  of  the  country,  and  called  upon 
the  United  States  government  to  protect  them. 

12.  James  K.  Polk,  of  Tennessee,  was  then  Presi- 
dent, and  had  taken,  before  his  election,  a very  promi- 
nent part  in  the  annexation  scheme.  He  was  there- 
fore quite  ready  and  willing  to  defend  this,  our  newly 
acquired  .territory,  and  promptly  sent  Gen.  Taylor  to 
the  western  part  of  Texas,  under  the  pretence  of  guard- 
ing the  frontiers  against  any  invasion  of  the  Mexicans. 
Gen.  Taylor,  in  obedience  to  orders  from  the  President, 
marched  his  army  quite  up  to  the  Rio  Grande,  which 
Mr.  Polk  claimed  as  the  western  boundary  of  Texas. 
But  this  the  Mexicans,  (with  good  reason  too,)  dis- 
puted ; declaring  that  the  western  boundary  of  Texas 
was  far  to  the  east  of  that  river,  and  remonstrated 
strongly  against  the  action  of  the  United  States,  in 
sending  a hostile  army  into  her  territory,  and  hence 
took  measures  to  expel  the  invaders.  As  before  stated, 
on  the  26th  of  April,  1846,  a small  number  of  the  hos- 
tile parties  met,  and  a tight  between  them  ensued. 

Thus  the  war  begun,  and  continued  with  almost  un- 
varied success  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  army 
till  the  2nd  of  February,  1848,  when  a treaty  of  peace 
was  concluded. 


WARS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


391 


During  this  short  war  of  less  than  two  years,  we  took 
all  their  strongholds  of  defence,  including  the  city  of 
Yera  Cruz,  together  with  their  capital,  the  city  of 
Mexico  itself.  Indeed  the  whole  country  was  occu- 
pied, and  might  have  been  kept  had  we  chosen  to  re- 
tain it.  But  in  the  treaty  of  peace  we  restored  a part 
of  their  country,  and  retained  all  we  desired  of  it,  to- 
wit : California  and  Hew  Mexico,  and  (in  short)  all  the 
northern  part  of  the  country.  But,  to  make  the  whole 
affair  look  less  like  robbery,  we  paid  the  Mexicans 
$10,000,000  for  what  we  kept — which  was  nearly  one- 
half  of  the  whole  country. 

14.  By  this  war  we  very  much  enlarged  our  territory, 
but  gained  very  little  military  glory,  and  added  noth- 
ing to  our  character  for  justice  and  magnanimity.  We, 
a powerful  nation,  fell  upon  a weak  one,  crushed  it, 
and  took  so  much  of  its  territory  as  we  pleased  ; and 
that — to  say  the  least  of  it — for  a very  trifling  cause. 
A little  wisdom,  a little  discreet  diplomacy,  would  have 
averted  this  war,  saved  thousands  of  lives,  millions  of 
money,  and  preserved  our  character  for  justice  and 
magnanimity. 

THE  SIXTH  WAR. 

15.  This  was  by  far  the  greatest,  the  most  expen- 
sive, and  most  bloody  war  that  was  ever  carried  on  up- 
on this  continent.  In  magnitude,  in  expense,  in  the 
lives  it  cost,  and  in  the  evil  consequences  which  resul- 
ted from  it,  it  surpassed  all  the  preceding  wars  com- 
bined, and  verified  the  old  adage  that  “ civil  wars  are 
the  worst  of  all  wars.”  This,  as  everybody  knows,  was 
a civil  war ; a war  between  the  people  of  the  same 


392  OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

country  and  government,  having  the  same  interests  and 
the  same  destiny. 

16.  Eight  here  we  might  expand  our  remarks  to  an 
extent  exceeding  the  whole  contents  of  this  volume,  in 
tracing  the  causes,  detailing  the  operations,  and  notic- 
ing the  results  of  this  most  terrible  and  cruel  war. 
Then  we  might  dwell  long  upon  the  consequences 
which  must  inevitably  follow  in  all  coming  time.  But 
this  would  be  foreign  to  our  purpose.  We  have  only 
undertaken  to  give  the  veriest  outlines  of  our  various 
wars,  the  time  when  they  commenced,  the  time  of  their 
duration,  and  the  results  produced.  Just  so  much  we 
will  say  of  our  civil  war — between  the  North  and  the 
South.  It  was  begun  on  the  12th  of  April,  1861,  by 
the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumpter  in  Charleston  har- 
bor. It  was  closed  in  April,  1865,  by  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  Lee,  the  Southern  commander-in-chief,  with  his 
army,  to  Gen.  Grant,  the  commander-in-chief  of  the 
National  forces,  having  lasted  four  years  with  varied 
success  on  both  sides.  All  the  details  of  this  desperate 
struggle  have  been  written  and  published  by  many  able 
historians,  to  whose  works  I must  refer  the  reader  who 
wishes  to  peruse  a complete  history  of  this  great  event. 

17.  Here  we  will  only  add  that  it  is  impossible  to 
say  how  many  lives  were  lost  in  this  devastating  war  ; 
500,000  on  both  sides  is  probably  as  correct  an  estimate 
as  can  be  made.  Eight  or  nine  billions  of  dollars  is 
probably  as  near  an  estimate  of  its  cost  as  can  be  calcu- 
lated. Other  disasters  and  evils  almost  inconceivable 
followed  in  its  train.  It  furnished  the  whole  world 
with  one  of  the  most  awful  examples  of  the  folly  and 
the  wickedness  of  war. 


WARS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


393 


OUR  INDIAN  WARS. 

18.  In  addition  to,  and  in  connection  with  the  seve- 
ral wars  mentioned  in  the  preceding  remarks,  our  nu- 
merous wars  with  the  various  Indian  tribes  should  be 
briefly  noticed.  In  both  of  our  wars  with  England, 
the  Indians  were  wheedled  and  enticed  by  presents  to 
take  sides  with  England  and  against  us.  This,  together 
with  their  barbarous  mode  of  warfare,  and  their  sav- 
age cruelties,  produced  a strong  antipathy  in  the  minds 
of  our  people  against  them.  This  feeling  was  recipro- 
cated by  the  Indians,  and  whenever  any  wrong  was 
perpetrated  by  either  party,  it  was  an  easy  matter  to 
make  it  a cause  of  war.  The  old  animosities  were 
there,  and  any  offensive  act  from  either  side  was  almost 
certain  to  produce  retaliatory  acts  from  the  other  party. 
When  the  whites  cheated  the  Indians,  they  in  retalia- 
tion would  steal  from  the  whites.  A pursuit  and  a 
massacre  would  follow,  and  then  the  government  would 
be  compelled  to  interfere. 

19.  From  these  and  other  causes  we  have  had  many 
wars  with  nearly  all  the  tribes  of  Indians  in  the  coun- 
try. Some  of  these  contests  have  been  obstinate  and 
bloody,  costing  many  valuable  lives,  and  a great  deal 
of  money.  Any  of  the  tribes — or  all  of  them  com- 
bined— could  make  but  a feeble  resistance  to  the 
power  of  the  United  States.  Hence  all  our  Indian 
wars  have  resulted  in  their  final  defeat,  and  sometimes 
in  their  almost  utter  destruction;  at  present  an  occa- 
sional fierce  and  bloody  encounter  is  waged  between  the 
government  and  the  western  Indians,  who  inhabit  the 
country  between  the  Mississippi  river  and  the  Rocky 


394  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

mountains.  Various  tribes  are  combined  to  prevent 
the  settlement  of  the  whites  upon  their  lands,  and  to 
prevent  the  construction  of  the  Pacific  railroad  through 
their  hunting  grounds. 

20.  The  Indians  who  remain  do  not  exceed  300,000. 
They  have  been  reduced  to  this  small  number  by  their 
frequent  wars  with  the  whites,  but  more  especially  by 
their  almost  perpetual  war  among  themselves.  Some 
of  them  have  become  partially  civilized,  and  have 
turned  their  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  instead 
of  wandering  about  on  hunting  excursions  and  warlike 
expeditions  against  each  other.  It  is  therefore  to  be 
hoped  that  our  Indian  wars  will  soon  cease  forever. 


DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


395 


THE 

DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


When,  in  the  course  of  human  events,  it  becomes  necessary  for 
one  people  to  dissolve  the  political  bands  which  have  connected  them 
with  another,  and  to  assume  among  the  powers  of  the  earth,  the  sep- 
arate and  equal  station  to  which  the  laws  of  nature  and  of  nature’s 
God  entitle  them,  a decent  respect  to  the  opinions  of  mankind  re- 
quires that  they  should  declare  the  causes  which  impel  them  to  the 
separation. 

We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident,  that  all  men  are  created 
equal ; that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain  unaliena- 
ble rights  ; that  among  these  are  life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  hap- 
piness. That  to  secure  these  rights,  governments  are  instituted 
among  men,  deriving  their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  gov- 
erned ; that,  whenever  any  form  of  government  becomes  destructive 
of  these  ends,  it  is  the  right  of  the  people  to  alter  or  to  abolish  it, 
and  to  institute  a new  government,  laying  its  foundation  jon  such 
principles,  and  organizing  its  powers  in  such  form,  as  to  them  shall 
seem  most  likely  to  effect  their  safety  and  happiness.  Prudence,  in- 
deed, will  dictate  that  governments  long  established  should  not  be 
changed  for  light  and  transient  causes ; and,  accordingly,  all  expe- 
rience hath  shown  that  mankind  are  more  disposed  to  suffer,  while 
evils  are  sufferable,  than  to  right  themselves  by  abolishing  the  forms 
to  which  they  are  accustomed.  But  when  a long  train  of  abuses  and 
usurpations,  pursuing  invariably  the  same  object,  evinces  a design 
to  reduce  them  under  absolute  despotism,  it  is  their  right,  it  is  their 
duty  to  throw  off  such  government,  and  to  provide  new  guards  for 
their  future  security.  Such  has  been  the  patient  sufferance  of  these 
colonies,  and  such  is  now  the  necessity  which  constrains  them  to  alter 
their  former  systems  of  government.  The  history  of  the  present 
King  of  Great  Britain  is  a history  of  repeated  injuries  and  usurpa- 
tions, all  having  in  direct  object  the  establishment  of  an  absolute 
tyranny  over  these  States.  To  prove  this, let  facts  be  submitted  to  a 
candid  world : 

He  has  refused  his  assent  to  laws  the  most  wholesome  and  necessary 
for  the  public  good. 

He  has  forbidden  his  Governors  to  pass  laws  of  immediate  and 
pressing  importance,  unless  suspended  in  their  operation  till  his  as- 
sent should  be  obtained ; and  when  so  suspended,  he  has  utterly  ne- 
glected to  attend  to  them. 


396 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


He  has  refused  to  pass  other  laws  for  the  accommodation  of  large 
districts  of  people,  unless  those  people  would  relinquish  the  right  of 
representation  in  the  legislature  j a right  inestimable  to  them,  and 
formidable  to  tyrants  only. 

He  has  called  together  legislative  bodies  at  places  unusual,  uncom- 
fortable, and  distant  from  the  depository  of  their  public  records,  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  fatiguing  them  into  compliance  with  his  measures. 

He  has  dissolved  representative  houses  repeatedly  for  opposing, 
with  manly  firmness,  his  invasions  on  the  rights  of  the  people. 

He  has  refused,  for  a long  time  after  such  dissolution,  to  cause 
others  to  be  elected ; whereby  the  legislative  powers,  incapable  of 
annihilation,  have  returned  to  the  people  at  large  for  their  exercise ; 
the  State  remaining,  in  the  meantime,  exposed  to  all  the  danger  of 
invasion  from  without,  and  convulsions  within. 

He  has  endeavored  to  prevent  the  population  of  these  States  ; for 
that  purpose,  obstructing  the  laws  for  naturalization  of  foreigners  ; 
refusing  to  pass  others  to  encourage  their  migration  hither,  and  rais- 
ing  the  conditions  of  new  appropriations  of  lands. 

He  has  obstructed  the  administration  of  justice,  by  refusing  his 
assent  to  laws  for  establishing  judiciary  powers. 

He  has  made  judges  dependent  on  his  will  alone,  for  the  tenure  of 
their  offices,  and  the  amount  and  payment  of  their  salaries. 

He  has  erected  a multitude  of  new  offices,  and  sent  hither  swarms 
of  officers  to  harass  our  people,  and  eat  out  their  substance. 

He  has  kept  among  us,  in  times  of  peace,  standing  armies,  with- 
out the  consent  of  our  legislature. 

He  has  affected  to  render  the  military  independent  of,  and  supe- 
rior to,  the  civil  power. 

He  has  combined,  with  others,  to  subject  us  to  a jurisdiction  for- 
eign to  our  constitution,  and  unacknowledged  by  our  laws ; giving 
his  assent  to  their  acts  of  pretended  legislation. 

For  quartering  large  bodies  of  armed  troops  among  us. 

For  protecting  them,  by  a mock  trial,  from  punishment,  for  any 
murders  which  they  should  commit  on  the  inhabitants  of  these 
States. 

For  cutting  off  our  trade  with  all  parts  of  the  world : 

For  imposing  taxes  on  us  without  our  consent : 

For  depriving  us,  in  many  cases,  of  the  benefits  of  trial  by  jury: 

For  transporting  us  beyond  seas  to  be  tried  for  pretended  offences : 

For  abolishing  the  free  system  of  English  laws  in  a neighboring 
province,  establishing  therein  an  arbitrary  government,  and  enlarg- 
ing its  boundaries,  so  as  to  render  it  at  once  an  example  and  fit  in- 
strument for  introducing  the  same  absolute  rule  into  these  colonies  : 

For  taking  away  our  charters,  abolishing  our  most  valuable  laws, 
and  altering  fundamentally,  the  powers  of  our  governments: 

For  suspending  our  own  legislatures,  and  declaring  themselves  in- 
vested with  power  to  legislate  for  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever. 

He  has  abdicated  government  here,  by  declaring  us  out  of  his  pro- 
tection, and  waging  war  against  us, 


DECLARATION  OP  INDEPENDENCE.  8C7 

He  has  plundered  our  seas,  ravaged  our  coasts,  burnt  our  towns, 
and  destroyed  the  lives  of  our  people. 

He  is,  at  this  time,  transporting  large  armies  of  foreign  mercena- 
ries to  complete  the  work  of  death,  desolation  and  tyranny,  already 
begun,  with  circumstances  of  cruelty  and  perfidy  scarcely  paralleled 
in  the  most  barbarous  ages,  and  totally  unworthy  the  head  of  a civil- 
ized nation. 

He  has  constrained  our  fellow-citizens,  taken  captive  on  the  high 
seas,  to  bear  arms  against  their  country,  to  become  the  executioners 
of  their  friends  and  brethren,  or  to  fall  themselves  by  their  hands. 

He  has  excited  domestic  insurrections  amongst  us,  and  has  endeav- 
ored to  bring  on  the  inhabitants  of  our  frontiers,  the  merciless  In- 
dian savages,  whose  known  rule  of  warfare  is  an  undistinguished  de- 
struction of  all  ages,  sexes,  and  conditions. 

In  every  stage  of  these  oppressions,  we  have  petitioned  for  redress,  in 
the  most  humble  terms  ; our  repeated  petitions  have  been  answered 
only  by  repeated  injury.  A prince,  whose  character  is  thus  marked 
by  every  act  which  may  define  a tyrant,  is  unfit  to  be  the  ruler  of  a 
free  people. 

Nor  have  we  been  wanting  m attention  to  our  British  brethren. 
¥e  have  warned  them  from  time  to  time,  of  attempts  made  by  their 
legislature  to  extend  an  unwarrantable  jurisdiction  over  us.  "We 
have  reminded  them  of  the  circumstances  of  our  emigration  and  set- 
tlement here.  We  have  appealed  to  their  native  justice  and  magnan- 
imity, and  we  have  conjured  them,  by  the  ties  of  our  common  kin- 
dred, to  disavow  these  usurpations,  which  would  inevitably  interrupt 
our  connections  and  correspondence.  They,  too,  have  been  deaf  to 
the  voice  of  justice  and  consanguinity.  We  must,  therefore,  acqui- 
esce in  the  necessity,  which  denounces  our  separation,  and  hold  them, 
as  we  hold  the  rest  of  mankind,  enemies  in  war,  in  peace,  friends. 

We,  therefore,  the  representatives  of  the  UNITED  STATES  OF 
AMERICA,  in  GENERAL  CONGRESS  assembled,  appealing  to 
the  Supreme  Judge  of  the  World  for  the  rectitude  of  our  intentions, 
do,  in  the  name,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  good  people  of  these 
colonies,  solomenly  publish  and  declare,  That  these  United  Colonies 
are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  FREE  AND  INDEPENDENT 
STATES ; that  they  are  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  the  British 
crown,  and  that  all  political  connexion  between  them  and  the  State 
of  Great  Britian,  is,  and  ought  to  be,  totally  dissolved;  and  that,  as 
FREE  AND  INDEPENDENT  STATES,  they  have  full  power  to 
levy  war,  conclude  peace,  contract  alliances,  establish  commerce,  anu 
to  do  all  other  acts  and  things  which  INDEPENDENT  STATES 
may  of  right  do.  And,  for  the  support  of  this  declaration,  and  a 
firm  reliance  on  the  protection  of  DIVINE  PROVIDENCE,  we 
mutually  pledge  to  each  other,  our  lives,  our  fortunes,  and  our  sacrea 
honor. 

The  foregoing  declaration  was,  by  order  of  Congress,  engrossed* 
and  signed  by  the  following  members ; 


JOHN  HANCOCK. 


398 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT, 


New  Hampshire . 
Josiah  Bartlett, 
William  Whipple, 
Matthew  Thornton. 

Rhode  Island . 
Stephen  Hopkins, 
William  Ellery. 

Connecticut . 
Roger  Sherman, 
Samuel  Huntington, 
William  Williams, 
Oliver  Wolcott. 

New  York . 
William  Floyd, 
Philip  Livingston, 
Erancis  Lewis, 

Lewis  Morris. 

New  Jersey . 
Richard  Stockton, 
John  Witherspoon, 
Erancis  Hopkinson, 
John  Hart, 

Abraham  Clark. 

Pennsylvania . 
Robert  Morris, 
Benjamin  Rush, 
Benjamin  Eranklin, 
John  Morton, 

George  Clymer, 

James  Smith, 

George  Taylor, 

James.  Wilson, 

George  Ross. 


Massachusetts  Bay . 

Samuel  Adams, 

John  Adams, 

Robert  Treat  Paine, 
Elbridge  Gerry. 

Delaware. 

(Lesar  Rodney, 

George  Reed, 

Thomas  M’Kean. 

Maryland. 

Samuel  Chase, 

William  Paca, 

Thomas  Stone, 

Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton. 

Virginia . 

George  Wythe, 

Richard  Henry  Lee, 

Thomas  Jefferson, 

Benjamin  Harrison, 

Thomas  Helson,  Jun., 

Francis  Lightfoot  Lee, 
Carter  Braxton. 

North  Carolina . 

William  Hooper, 

Joseph  Hewes, 

John  Penn. 

South  Carolina. 

Edward  Rutledge, 

Thomas  Heyward,  Jun., 
Thomas  Lynch,  Jun., 

Arthur  Middleton. 

Georgia. 

Button  Gwinnett, 

Lyman  Hall, 

George  Walton. 


THE  CONSTITUTION. 


399 


CONSTITUTION 

OF  THE 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


We,  the  People  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to  form  a more  per- 
fect Union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquility,  provide 
for  the  common  defense,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and  secure  the 
blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity,  do  ordain  and 
establish  this  Constitution  for  the  United  States  of  America. 

ARTICLE  I. 

Section  1.  All  legislative  powers  herein  granted  shall  be  vested  in 
a Congress  of  the  United  States,  which  shall  consist  of  a Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives. 

Section  2.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  composed  of 
members  chosen  every  second  year  by  the  people  of  the  several  States, 
and  the  electors  in  each  State  shall  have  the  qualifications  requisite 
for  electors  of  the  most  numerous  branch  of  the  State  Legislature. 

Ho  person  shall  be  a Representative  who  shall  not  have  attained  to 
the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  been  seven  years  a citizen  of  the 
United  States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant  of 
that  State  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

Representatives  and  direct  taxes  shall  be  apportioned  among  the 
several  States  which  may  be  included  within  this  Union,  according 
to  their  respective  numbers,  which  shall  be  determined  by  adding  to 
the  whole  number  of  free  persons,  including  those  bound  to  service 
for  a term  of  years,  and  excluding  Indians  not  taxed,  three-fifths  of 
all  other  persons.  The  actual  enumeration  shall  be  made  within 
three  years  after  the  first  meeting  of  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  and  within  every  subsequent  term  of  ten  years,  in  such  man- 
ner as  they  shall  by  law  direct.  The  number  of  Representatives 
shall  not  exceed  one  for  every  thirty  thousand,  but  each  State  shall 
have  at  least  one  Representative  ; and  until  such  enumeration  shall 
be  made,  the  State  of  Hew  Hampshire  shall  be  entitled  to  choose 
three,  Massachusetts  eight,  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations 
one,  Connecticut  five,  Hew  York  six,  Hew  Jersey  four,  Pennsylvania 
eight,  Delaware  one,  Maryland  six,  Virginia  ten,  Horth  Carolina 
five,  and  Georgia  three. 

When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation  from  any  State,  the 
Executive  authority  thereof  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to  fill  such 
vacancies. 

The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  their  Speaker  and  other 
officers,  and  shall  have  the  sole  power  of  impeachment. 

26 


400 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Section  3.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States  shall  be  composed  of 
two  Senators  from  each  State,  chosen  by  the  Legislature  thereof,  for 
six:  years  ; and  each  Senator  shall  have  one  vote. 

Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled  in  consequence  of  the 
first  election,  they  shall  be  divided  as  equally  as  may  be  into  three 
classes.  The  seats  of  the  Senators  of  the  first  class  shall  be  vacated 
at  the  expiration  of  the  second  year,  of  the  second  class  at  the  expi- 
ration of  the  fourth  year,  and  of  the  third  class  at  the  expiration  of 
the  sixth  year,  so  that  one-third  may  be  chosen  every  second  year  ; 
and  if  vacancies  happen  by  resignation,  or  otherwise,  during  the  re- 
cess of  the  Legislature  of  any  State,  the  Executive  thereof  may  make 
temporary  appointments  until  the  next  meeting  of  the  Legislature, 
which  shall  then  fill  such  vacancies. 

No  person  shall  be  a Senator  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the 
age  of  thirty  years,  and  been  nine  years  a citizen  of  the  United 
States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant  of  that 
State  for  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

The  Vice  President  of  the  United  States  shall  be  President  of  the 
Senate,  but  shall  have  no  vote  unless  they  be  equally  divided. 

The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers,  and  also  a President 
pro  tempore,  in  the  absence  of  the  Vice  President,  or  when  he  shall 
exercise  the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States. 

The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  power  to  try  all  impeachments. 
When  sitting  for  that  purpose  they  shall  be  on  oath  or  affirmation. 
When  the  President  of  the  United  States  is  tried,  the  Chief  Justice 
shall  preside.  And  no  person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  concur- 
rence of  two-thirds  of  the  members  present. 

Judgment  in  cases  of  impeachment  shall  not  extend  further  than 
to  removal  from  office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  and  enjoy  any 
office  of  honor,  trust  or  profit  under  the  United  States  : but  the  party 
convicted  shall  nevertheless  be  liable  and  subject  to  indictment,  trial, 
judgment  and  punishment  according  to  law. 

Section  4.  The  times,  places  and  manner  of  holding  elections 
for  Senators  and  Representatives,  shall  be  prescribed'  in  each  State 
by  the  Legislature  thereof ; but  the  Congress  may  at  anytime  by 
law  make  or  alter  such  regulations,  except  as  to  the  places  of  choos- 
ing Senators. 

The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in  every  year,  and  such 
meeting  shall  be  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  unless  they  shall 
"by  law  appoint  a different  day. 

Section  5.  Each  house  shall  be  the  judge  of  the  election,  returns 
and  qualifications  of  its  own  members,  and  a majority  of  each  shall 
constitute  a quorum  to  do  business ; but  a smaller  number  may  ad- 
journ from  day  to  day,  and  may  be  authorized  to  compel  the  attend- 
ance of  absent  members  in  such  manner,  and  under  such  penalties  as 
each  house  may  provide. 

Each  house  may  determine  the  rules  of  its  proceedings,  punish  its 
members  for  disorderly  behaviour,  and,  with  the  concurrence  of  two- 
thirds,  expel  a member. 


THE  CONSTITUTION. 


401 


Each  house  shall  keep  a journal  of  its  proceedings,  and  from  time 
to  time  publish  the  same,  excepting  such  parts  as  may  in  their  judg- 
ment require  secrecy ; and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the  members  of 
either  house  on  any  question  shall,  at  the  desire  of  one-fifth  of  those 
present,  be  entered  on  the  journal. 

Neither  house,  during  the  session  of  Congress,  shall,  without  the 
consent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to 
any  other  place  than  that  in  which  the  two  houses  shall  be  sitting. 

Section-  6.  The  Senators  and  Representatives  shall  receive  a com- 
pensation for  their  services,  to  be  ascertained  by  law,  and  paid  out  of 
the  Treasury  of  the  United  States.  They  shall  in  all  cases,  except 
treason,  felony  and  breach  of  the  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest 
during  their  attendance  at  the  session  of  their  respective  houses,  and 
in  going  to  and  returning  from  the  same ; and  for  any  speech  or  de- 
bate in  either  house  they  shall  not  be  questioned  in  any  other  place. 

No  Senator  or  Representative  shall,  during  the  time  for  which  he 
was  elected,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  office  under  the  authority  of 
the  United  States,  which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  emoluments 
whereof  shall  have  been  increased  during  such  time  ; and  no  person 
holding  any  office  under  the  United  States,  shall  be  a member  of 
either  house  during  his  continuance  in  office. 

Section  7.  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall  originate  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  ; but  the  Senate  may  propose  or  concur 
with  amendments  as  on  other  bills. 

Every  bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  House  of  Representatives 
and  the  Senate,  shall,  before  it  becomes  a law,  be  presented  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States ; if  he  approve  he  shall  sign  it,  but  if 
not  he  shall  return  it  with  his  objections  to  that  house  in  which  it 
shall  have  originated,  who  shall  enter  the  objections  at  large  on  their 
journal,  and  proceed  to  reconsider  it.  If  after  such  reconsideration 
two-thirds  of  that  House  shall  agree  to  pass  the  bill,  it  shall  be  sent, 
together  with  the  objections,  to  the  other  house,  by  which  it  shall 
likewise  be  reconsidered,  and  if  approved  by  two-thirds  of  that 
House,  it  shall  become  a law.  But  in  all  such  cases  the  votes  of  both 
houses  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the  names  of  the 
persons  voting  for  and  against  the  bill  shall  be  entered  on  the  jour- 
nal of  each  house  respectively.  If  any  bill  shall  not  be  returned  by 
the  President  within  ten  days  (Sundays  excepted),  after  it  shall  have 
been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a law,  in  like  manner  as  if 
he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  Congress  by  their  adjournment  prevent 
its  return,  in  which  case  it  shall  not  be  a law. 

Every  order,  resolution  or  vote  to  which  the  concurrence  of  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  may  be  necessary  (except  on  a 
question  of  adjournment),  shall  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States ; and  before  the  same  shall  take  effect,  shall  be  ap- 
proved by  him,  or  being  disapproved  by  him,  shall  be  repassed  by 
two-thirds  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  according  to 
the  rules  and  limitations  prescribed  in  the  case  of  a bill. 


402 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Section  8.  The  Congress  shall  have  power — 

To  lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts  and  excises,  to  pay  the 
debts  and  provide  for  the  common  defense  and  general  welfare  of  the 
United  States  ; but  all  duties,  imposts  and  excises  shall  be  uniform 
throughout  the  United  States  ; 

To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States ; 

To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  among  the  several 
States,  and  with  the  Indian  tribes ; 

To  establish  a uniform  rule  of  naturalization,  and  uniform  laws 
on  the  subject  of  bankruptcies  throughout  the  United  States  ; 

To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and  of  foreign  coin, 
and  fix  the  standard  of  weights  and  measures ; 

To  provide  for  the  punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  securities  and 
current  coin  of  the  United  States ; 

To  establish  post-offices  and  post-roads. 

To  promote  the  progress  of  science  and  useful  arts,  by  securing  for 
limited  times  to  authors  and  inventors  the  exclusive  right  to  their  re- 
spective writings  and  discoveries ; 

To  constitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  Supreme  Court ; 

To  define  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies  committed  on  the  high 
seas,  and  offences  against  the  law  of  nations ; 

To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal,  and  make 
rules  concerning  captures  on  land  and  water ; 

To  raise  and  support  armies,  but  no  appropriation  of  money  to 
that  use  shall  be  for  a longer  term  than  two  years  j 

To  provide  and  maintain  a navy ; 

To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regulation  of  the  land  and 
naval  forces ; 

To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the  laws  of  the 
Union,  suppress  insurrections  and  repel  invasions  ; 

To  provide  for  organizing,  arming  and  disciplining  the  militia, 
and  for  governing  such  part  of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States,  reserving  to  the  States  respectively  the 
appointment  of  the  officers,  and  the  authority  of  training  the  militia 
according  to  the  discipline  prescribed  by  Congress. 

To  exercise  legislation  in  all  cases  whatsoever,  over  such  district 
(not  exceeding  ten  miles  square),  as  may,  by  cession  of  particular 
States  and  the  acceptance  of  Congress,  become  the  seat  of  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  and  to  exercise  like  authority  over  all 
places  purchased  by  the  consent  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  in 
which  the  same  shall  be,  for  the  erection  of  forts,  magazines,  arse- 
nals, dock-yards  and  other  needful  buildings  ; — and 

To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for  carrying 
into  execution  the  foregoing  powers,  and  all  other  powers  vested 
by  this  Constitution  in  the  government  of  the  United  States,  or  in 
any  department  or  officer  thereof. 

Section  9.  The  migration  or  importation  of  such  persons  as  any 
of  the  States  now  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be 


THE  CONSTITUTION-. 


408 


prohibited  by  the  Congress  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  eight,  but  a tax  or  duty  may  be  imposed  on  such  importa- 
tion, not  exceeding  ten  dollars  for  each  person. 

The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall  not  be  suspended, 
unless  when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion  the  public  safety  may 
require  it. 

No  bill  of  attainder  or  ex  post  facto  law  shall  be  passed. 

No  capitation  or  other  direct  tax  shall  be  laid  unless  in  proportion 
to  the  census  or  enumeration  herein  before  directed  to  be  taken. 

No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on  articles  exported  from  any  State. 

No  preference  shall  be  given  by  any  regulation  of  commerce  or 
revenue  to  the  ports  of  one  State  over  those  of  another ; nor  shall 
vessels  bound  to,  or  from  one  State,  be  obliged  to  enter,  clear,  or  pay 
duties  in  another. 

No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  Treasury,  but  in  consequence 
of  appropriations  made  by  law ; and  a regular  statement  and  accouut 
of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  all  public  money  shall  be  pub- 
lished from  time  to  time. 

No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United  States;  and 
no  person  holding  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  under  them,  shall  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  Congress,  accept  of  any  present,  emolument, 
office,  or  title,  of  any  kind  whatever,  from  any  king,  prince  or  for- 
eign State. 

Section  10.  No  State  shall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or  con- 
federation ; grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal ; coin  money  ; emit 
bills  of  credit ; make  anything  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a tender  in 
payment  of  debts ; pass  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex  post  facto  law,  or 
law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts,  or  grant  any  title  of  no- 
bility. 

No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  lay  any  im- 
posts or  duties  on  imports  or  exports,  except  what  may  be  absolutely 
necessary  for  executing  its  inspection  laws,  and  the  net  produce  of 
all  duties  and  imposts  laid  by  any  State  on  imports  or  exports,  shall 
be  for  the  use  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  ; and  all  such 
laws  shall  be  subject  to  the  revision  and  control  of  the  Congress. 

No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  Congress,  lay  any  duty  on 
tonnage,  keep  troops  or  ships  of  war  in  time  of  peace,  enter  into 
any  agreement  or  compact  with  another  State,  or  with  a foreign 
power,  or  engage  in  war,  unless  actually  invaded,  or  in  such  immin- 
nent  danger  as  will  not  admit  of  delay. 

ARTICLE  II. 

Section  1.  The  Executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a President  of 
the  United  States  of  America.  He  shall  hold  his  office  during  the 
term  of  four  years,  and,  together  with  the  Vice  President  chosen  for 
the  same  term,  be  elected  as  follows; 

Each  State  shall  appoint,  in  such  manner  as  the  Legislature  there- 
of may  direct,  a number  of  electors,  equal  to  the  whole  number  of 


404 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Senators  and  Representatives  to  which  the  State  may  he  entitled  in 
the  Congress  ; but  no  Senator  or  Representative,  or  person  holding 
an  office  of  trust  or  profit  under  the  United  States,  shall  be  appoin- 
ted an  elector. 

[*The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States,  and  vote  by 
ballot  for  two  persons,  of  whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be  an  inhabi- 
tant of  the  same  State  with  themselves.  And  they  shall  make  a list 
of  all  the  persons  voted  for,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each ; 
which  list  they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat 
of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  directed  to  the  President  of 
the  Senate.  The  President  of  the  Senate  shall,  in  the  presence  of 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the  certificates, 
and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted.  The  person  having  the  great- 
est number  of  votes  shall  be  the  President,  if  such  number  be  a ma- 
jority of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed  ; and  if  there  be 
more  than  one  who  have  such  majority,  and  have  an  equal  number 
of  votes,  then  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  immediately  choose 
by  ballot  one  of  them  for  President;  and  if  no  person  have  a.  major- 
ity, then  from  the  five  highest  on  the  list  the  said  House  shall  in  like 
manner  choose  the  President.  But  in  choosing  the  President,  the 
votes  shall  be  taken  by  States,  the  representation  from  each  State 
having  one  vote  ; a quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a mem- 
ber or  members  from  two-thirds  of  the  States,  and  a majority  of  all 
the  States  shall  be  necessary  to  a choice.  In  every  case,  after  the 
choice  of  the  President,  the  person  having  the  greatest  number 
of  votes  of  the  electors  shall  be  the  Vice  President.  But  if  there 
should  remain  two  or  more  who  have  equal  votes,  the  Senate  shall 
choose  from  them  by  ballot  the  Vice  President.] 

The  Congress  may  determine  the  time  of  choosing  the  electors, 
and  the  day  on  which  they  shall  give  their  votes  ; which  day  shall 
be  the  same  throughout  the  United  States. 

Ho  person  except  a natural  born  citizen,  or  a citizen  of  the  United 
States  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  eligi- 
ble to  the  office  of  President;  neither  shall  any  person  be  eligible  to 
that  office  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  thirty-five  years, 
and  been  fourteen  years  a resident  within  the  United  States. 

In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from  office,  or  of  his  death, 
resignation,  or  inability  to  discharge  the  powers  and  duties  of 
the  said  office,  the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice  President,  and  the 
Congress  may  by  law  provide  for  the  case  of  removal,  death,  resigna- 
tion, or  inability,  both  of  the  President  and  Vice  President,  declar- 
ing what  officer  shall  then  act  as  President,  and  such  officer  shall  act 
accordingly,  until  the  disability  be  removed,  or  a President  shall  be 
elected. 

The  President  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for  his  services  a com- 

*This  clause  within  brackets  has  been  superceded  and  annulled  by 
the  12th  amendment. 


THE  CONSTITUTION. 


405 

pensation  which  shall  neither  be  increased  nor  diminished  during 
the  period  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected,  and  he  shall  not  re- 
ceive within  that  period  any  other  emolument  from  the  United 
States,  or  any  of  them. 

Before  he  enter  on  the  execution  of  his  office,  he  shall  take  the  fol- 
lowing oath  or  affirmation  : 

“I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I will  faithfully  execute  the 
*i  office  of  President  of  the  United  States,  and  will,  to  the  best  of 

my  ability,  preserve,  protect  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the 
*l  United  States.” 

Section  2.  The  President  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the 
army  and  navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  several 
States,  when  called  into  the  actual  service  of  the  United  States  ; he 
may  require  the  opinion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal  officer  in  each 
of  the  Executive  departments,  upon  any  subject  relating  to  the  duties 
of  their  respective  offices,  and  he  shall  have  power  to  grant  re- 
prieves and  pardon  for  offences  against  the  United  States,  except  in 
cases  of  impeachment. 

He  shall  have  power,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
Senate,  to  make  treaties,  provided  two-thirds  of  the  Senators  present 
concur;  and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the 
Senate,  shall  appoint  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers^  and  con- 
suls, judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  all  other  officers  of  the  United 
States  whose  appointments  are  not  herein  otherwise  provided  for, 
and  which  shall  be  established  by  law  ; but  the  Congress  may  by  law 
vest  the  appointment  of  such  inferior  officers  as  they  think  proper  in 
the  President  alone,  in  the  courts  of  law,  or  in  the  heads  of  depart- 
ments. 

The  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  up  all  vacancies  that  may 
happen  during  the  recess  of  the  Senate,  by  granting  commissions 
which  shall  expire  at  the  end  of  their  next  sessions. 

Section  3.  He  shall  from  time  to  time  give  to  the  Congress  infor- 
mation of  the  state  of  the  Union,  and  recommend  to  their  consider- 
ation such  measures  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient  ; ho 
may,  on  extraordinary  occasions,  convene  both  Houses,  or  either  of 
them,  and  in  case  of  disagreement  between  them,  with  respect  to  the 
time  of  adjournment,  he  may  adjourn  them  to  such  time  as  he  shall 
think  proper  ; he  shall  receive  ambassadors  and  other  public  minis- 
ters ; he  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be  faithfully  executed,  and 
shall  commission  all  the  officers  of  the  United  States. 

Section  4.  The  President,  Vice  President  and  all  civil  officers 
of  the  United  States,  shall  be  removed  from  office  on  impeachment 
for,  and  conviction  of  treason,  bribery,  or  other  high  crimes  and 
misdemeanors. 

AKTICLE  III. 

Section  1.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  be 
vested  in  one  Supreme  Court,  and  such  inferior  courts  as  the  Con- 
gress may  from  time  to  time  ordain  and  establish.  The  judges,  both 


406 


OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


of  the  Supreme  and  inferior  courts,  shall  hold  their  offices  during 
good  behavior,  and  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for  their  services  a 
compensation,  which  shall  not  be  diminished  during  their  continu- 
ance in  office. 

Section  2.  The  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all  cases,  in  law 
and  equity,  arising  under  this  Constitution,  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  and  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  their  au- 
thority ; — to  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers, 
and  consuls  ; — to  all  cases  of  admiralty  and  maritime  jurisdiction  ; — 
to  controversies  to  which  the  United  States  shall  be  a party  ; — to  con- 
troversies between  two  or  more  States  ; — between  a State  and  citizens 
of  another  State  ;• — between  citizens  of  different  States, — between 
citizens  of  the  same  State  claiming  lands  under  grants  of  different 
States,  and  between  a State,  or  the  citizens  thereof,  and  foreign 
States,  citizens  or  subjects. 

In  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers  and  con- 
suls, and  those  in  which  a State  shall  be  a party,  the  Supreme  Court 
shall  have  original  jurisdiction. 

In  all  the  other  cases  before  mentioned,  the  Supreme  Court  shall 
have  appellate  jurisdiction,  both  as  to  law  and  fact,  with  such  excep- 
tions, and  under  such  regulations  as  the  Congress  shall  make. 

The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment,  shall  be 
hyjury;  and  such  trial  shall  be  held  in  the  State  where  the  said 
crimes  shall  have  been  committed  ; but  when  not  committed  within 
any  State,  the  trial  shall  be  at  such  place  or  places  as  the  Congress 
may  by  law  have  directed. 

Section  3.  Treason  against  the  United  States  shall  consist  only 
in  levying  war  against  them,  or  in  adhering  to  their  enemies,  giving 
them  aid  and  comfort.  No  person  shall  be  convicted  of  treason  un- 
less on  the  testimony  of  two  witnesses  to  the  same  overt  act,  or  on 
confession  in  open  court. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  declare  the  punishment  of  trea- 
son, but  no  attainder  of  treason  shall  work  corruption  of  blood,  or 
forfeiture  except  during  the  life  of  the  person  attainted. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

Section  1.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in  each  State  to  the 
public  acts,  records,  and  judicial  proceedings  of  every  other  State. 
And  the  Congress  may  by  general  laws  prescribe  the  manner  in  which 
such  acts,  records  and  proceedings  shall  be  proved,  and  the  effect 
thereof. 

Section  2.  The  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all  priv- 
ileges and  immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several  States. 

A person  charged  in  any  State  with  treason,  felony  or  other  crime, 
who  shall  flee  from  justice,  and  be  found  in  another  State,  shall  on 
demand  of  the  Executive  authority  of  the  State  from  which  he  fled, 
be  delivered  up,  to  be  removed  to  the  State  having  jurisdiction  of 
the  crime. 


THE  CONSTITUTION. 


407 


No  person  held  to  service  or  labor  in  one  State,  under  the  laws 
thereof,  escaping  into  another,  shall,  in  consequence  of  any  law  or 
regulation  therein,  be  discharged  from  such  service  or  labor,  but 
shall  be  delivered  up  on  the  claim  of  the  party  to  whom  such  service 
or  labor  may  be  due. 

Section  3.  New  States  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congress  into  this 
Union;  but  no  new  State  shall  be  formed  or  erected  within  the  ju- 
risdiction of  any  other  State:  nor  any  State  be  formed  by  the  junc- 
tion of  two  or  more  States,  or  parts  of  States,  without  the  consent  of 
the  Legislatures  of  the  States  concerned,  as  well  as  of  the  Congress. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  and  make  all  needful 
rules  and  regulations  respecting  the  territory  or  other  property  be- 
longing to  the  United  States;  and  nothing  in  this  Constitution  shall 
be  so  construed  as  to  prejudice  any  claims  of  the  United  States,  or  of 
any  particular  State.  * 

Section  4.  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  State  in 
this  Union  a Republican  form  of  government,  and  shall  protect  each 
of  them  against  invasion,  and  on  application  of  the  Legislature,  or 
of  the  Executive  (when  the  Legislature  cannot  be  convened)  against 
domestic  violence. 

ARTICLE  Y. 

The  Congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of  both  Houses  shall  deem  it  * 
necessary,  shall  propose  amendments  to  this  Constitution,  or,  on  the 
application  of  the  Legislatures  of  two-thirds  of  the  several  States, 
shall  call  a convention  for  proposing  amendments,  which,  in  either 
case,  shall  be  valid  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  part  of  this  Con- 
stitution, when  ratified  by  the  Legislatures  of  three-fourths  of  the 
several  States,  or  by  conventions  in  three-fourths  thereof,  as  the  one 
or  the  other  mode  of  ratification  may  be  proposed  by  the  Congress. 
Provided  that  no  amendment  which  may  be  made  prior  to  the  year 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight  shall  in  any  manner  affect  the 
first  and  fourth  clauses  in  the  ninth  section  of  the  first  article ; and 
that  no  State,  without  its  consent,  shall  be  deprived  of  its  equal  suf- 
frage in  the  Senate. 

ARTICLE  YI. 

All  debts  contracted  and  engagements  entered  into,  before  the 
adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  as  valid  against  the  United 
States  under  this  Constitution,  as  under  the  Confederation. 

This  Constitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  which  shall 
be  made  in  pursuance  thereof,  and  all  treaties  made,  or  which  shall 
be  made,  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  the  su- 
preme law  of  the  land;  and  the  judges  in  every  State  shall  be  bound 
thereby,  anything  in  the  Constitution  or  laws  of  any  State  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding. 

The  Senators  and  Representatives  before  mentioned,  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  several  State  Legislatures,  and  all  executive  and  judicial 
officers,  both  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  several  States,  shall  be 


408 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


bound  by  oath  or  affirmation,  to  support  this  Constitution ; but  no 
religious  test  shall  ever  be  required  as  a qualification  to  any  office* 
or  public  trust  under  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

The  ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  nine  States  shall  be  sufficient 
for  the  establishment  of  this  Constitution  between  the  States  so.  rati- 
fying the  same. 

Done  in  Convention  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  States  pres- 
ent, the  seventeenth  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  and  of  the  Inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  of  America,  the  twelfth.  In 
Witness  Whereof,  We  have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names 

GEO.  WASHINGTON, 
President  and  Deputy  from  Virginia . 


New  Hampshire , 
John  Langdon, 
Nicholas  Gilman. 

Massachusetts. 
Nathaniel  Gorham, 
Rufus  King. 


Delaware. 

Geo.  Read, 

John  Dickinson, 

Jaco.  Broom, 

Gunning  Bedford,  Jun’r, 
Richard  Bassett. 


Connecticut . 
Wm.  Saml.  Johnson, 
Roger  Sherman. 

New  York. 

Alexander  Hamilton. 

New  Jersey . 
Wil.  Livingston, 

Wm.  Paterson, 

David  Brearley, 
Jona.  Dayton. 

Pennsylvania. 
B.  Franklin, 

Robt.  Morris, 

Tho.  Fitzsimons, 

James  Wilson, 

Thomas  Mifflin, 

Geo.  Clymer, 

Jared  Ingersoll, 
Gouv.  Morris. 

Attest: 


Maryland. 

James  M’Henry, 

Danl.  Carroll, 

Dan.  of  St.  Thos.  Jenifer. 
Virginia . 

John  Blair, 

James  Madison,  Jr. 

North  Carolina . 

Wm.  Blount, 

Hu.  Williamson, 

Rich’d  Dobbs  Spaight. 

South  Carolina. 

J.  Rutledge, 

Charles  Pinckney, 

Chas.  Cotesworth  Pinckney, 
Pierce  Butler. 

Georgia. 

William  Few, 

Abr.  Baldwin. 

WILLIAM  JACKSON,  Secretary . 


AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION. 


409 


ARTICLES  IN  ADDITION  TO,  AND  AMEND- 
ATORY OF,  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

Proposed  by  Congress , and  ratified  by  the  Legislatures  of  the  several  States , 
pursuant  to  the  fifth  article  of  the  original  Constitution . 


ARTICLE  I. 

Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establishment  of  relig- 
ion, or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof ; or  abridging  the  freedom 
of  speech,  or  of  the  press;  or  the  right  of  the  people  peaceably  to 
assemble,  and  to  petition  the  government  for  a redress  of  grievances. 

ARTICLE  II. 

A well  regulated  militia  being  necessary  to  the  security  of  a free 
State,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  arms  shall  not  be  in- 
fringed. 

ARTICLE  III. 

No  soldier  shall  in  time  of  peace  be  quartered  in  any  house  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  owner,  nor  in  time  of  war,  but  in  a manner 
to  be  prescribed  by  law. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses,  papers, 
and  effects,  against  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be 
•violated,  and  no  warrants  shall  issue  but  upon  probable  cause,  sup- 
ported by  oath  or  affirmation,  and  particularly  describing  the  place 
to  be  searched,  and  the  persons  or  things  to  be  seized. 

ARTICLE  V. 

No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a capital  or  otherwise  infa- 
mous crime,  unless  on  a presentment  or  indictment  of  a Grand  Jury, 
except  in  cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the  militia 
when  in  actual  service  in  time  of  war  or  public  danger ; nor  shall 
any  person  be  subject  for  the  same  offense  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy 
of  life  or  limb  ; nor  shall  be  compelled  in  any  criminal  case  to  be  a 
witness  against  himself,  nor  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property, 
without  due  process  of  law  ; nor  shall  private  property  be  taken  for 
public  use,  without  just  compensation. 


410 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


ARTICLE  YI. 

In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  enjoy  the  right  to  a 
speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  State  and  dis- 
trict wherein  the  crime  shall  have  been  committed,  which  district 
shall  have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law,  and  to  be  informed  of 
the  nature  and  cause  of  the  accusation;  to  be  confronted  with  the 
witnesses  against  him;  to  have  compulsory  process  for  obtaining 
witnesses  in  his  favor,  and  to  have  the  assistance  of  counsel  for  his 
defense. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  controversy  shall  ex- 
ceed twenty  dollars,  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  preserved,  and 
no  fact  tried  by  a jury  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined  in  any  court 
of  the  United  States,  than  according  to  the  rules  of  the  common  law. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive  fines  imposed, 
nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

The  enumeration  in  the  Constitution,  of  certain  rights,  shall  not 
be  construed  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by  the  people. 

ARTICLE  X. 

The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by  the  Constitution, 
nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  States,  are  reserved  to  the  States  respect- 
ively, or  to  the  people. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  not  be  construed  to 
extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity  commenced  or  prosecuted  against 
one  of  the  United  States  by  citizens  of  another  State,  or  by  citizens 
or  subjects  of  any  foreign  State. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States,  and  vote  by  bal- 
lot for  President  and  Vice  President,  one  of  whom  at  least  shall  not 
be  an  inhabitant  of  the  same  State  with  themselves  ; they  shall  name 
in  their  ballots  the  person  to  be  voted  for  as  President,  and  in  distinct 
ballots  the  person  voted  for  as  Vice  President,  and  they  shall  make 
distinct  lists  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  President,  and  of  all  persons 
voted  for  as  Vice  President,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each, 
which  list  they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat 
of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  directed  to  the  President 
of  the  Senate.  The  President  of  the  Senate  shall,  in  presence  of  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the  certificates  and  the 
votes  shall  then  be  counted.  The  person  having  the  greatest  num- 


AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION. 


411 


ber  of  votes  for  President,  shall  be  the  President,  if  such  number  be 
a majority  of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed;  and  if  no 
person  have  such  majority,  then  from  the  persons  having;  the  highest 
number  not  exceeding  three  on  the  list  of  those  voted  for  as  Presi- 
dent, the  House  of  Eepresentatives  shall  choose  immediately,  by  bal- 
lot, the  President.  But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  votes  shall  be 
taken  by  States,  the  representation  from  each  State  having  one  vote  ; 
a quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a member  or  members 
from  two-thirds  of  the  States,  and  a majority  of  all  the  States  shall 
be  necessary  to  a choice.  And  if  the  House  of  Eepresentatives  shall 
not  choose  a President  whenever  the  right  of  choice  shall  devolve 
upon  them,  before  the  fourth  day  of  March  next  following,  then  the 
Vice  President  shall  act  as  President,  as  in  the  case  of  the  death  or 
other  Constitutional  disability  of  the  President.  The  person  having 
the  greatest  number  of  votes  as  Vice  President,  shall  be  the  Vice 
President,  if  such  number  be  a majority  of  the  whole  number  of 
electors  appointed,  and  if  no  person  have  a majority,  then  from  the 
two  highest  numbers  on  the  list,  the  Senate  shall  choose  the  Vice 
President ; a quorurri.  for  the  purpose  shall  consist  of  two-thirds  of 
the  whole  number  of  Senators,  and  a majority  of  the  whole  number 
shall  be  necessary  to  a choice.  But  no  person  Constitutionally  ineli- 
gible to  the  office  of  President  shall  be  eligible  to  that  of  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 

AETICLE.  XIII. 

Section  1.  Neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude,  except  as 
a punishment  for  crime,  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  con- 
victed, shall  exist  within  the  United  States,  or  any  place  subject  to 
their  jurisdiction. 

Section  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  article  by 
appropriate  legislation. 

AETICLE.  XIY. 

Section.  1.  All  persons  born  or  naturalized  in  the  United  States 
and  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  thereof,  are  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  the  State  wherein  they  reside.  No  State  shall  make 
or  enforce  any  law  which  shall  abridge  the  privileges  or  immunities 
of  citizens  of  the  United  States;  nor  shall  any  State  deprive  any 
person  of  life,  liberty  or  property  without  due  process  of  law,  nor 
deny  to  any  person  within  its  jurisdiction  the  equal  protection  of 
the  laws. 

Sec.  2.  Eepresentatives  shall  be  appointed  among  the  several 
States  according  to  their  respective  numbers,  counting  the  whole 
number  of  persons  in  each  State,  excluding  Indians  not  taxed ; but 
when  the  right  to  vote  at  any  election  for  the  choice  of  electors  for 
President  and  Yice  President  of  the  United  States,  Eepresentatives 
in  Congress,  the  executive  and  judicial  officers  of  a State  or  the 
members  of  the  Legislature  thereof,  is  denied  to  any  of  the  male  in- 
habitants of  such  State,  being  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  citizens 


412 


OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  way  abridged  except  for  participa- 
tion in  rebellion  or  other  crimes,  the  basis  of  representation  therein 
shall  be  reduced  in  the  proportion  which  the  number  of  such  male 
citizens  shall  bear  to  the  whole  number  of  male  citizens  twenty-one 
years  of  age  in  such  State. 

Sec.  3.  No  person  shall  be  a Senator  or  Representative  in  Con- 
gress or  elector  of  President  and  Vice  President,  or  hold  any  office 
civil  or  military,  under  the  United  States  or  under  any  State  who, 
having  previously  taken  an  oath  as  a Member  of  Congress,  or  as  an 
officer  of  the  United  States,  or  as  a member  of  any  State  Legisla- 
ture, or  as  an  executive  or  judicial  officer  of  any  State,  to  support 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  shall  have  engaged  in  insur- 
rection or  rebellion  against  the  same,  or  given  aid  or  comfort  to  the 
enemies  thereof.  But  Congress  may,  by  a vote  of  two-thirds  of  each 
house,  remove  such  disability. 

Sec.  4.  The  validity  of  the  public  debt  of  the  United  States  au- 
thorized by  law,  including  debts  incurred  for  payment  of  pensions 
and  bounties  for  services  in  suppressing  insurrection  or  rebellion, 
shall  not  be  questioned.  But  neither  the  United  States  nor  any  State 
shall  assume  or  pay  any  debt  or  obligation  incurred  in  the  aid  of  in- 
surrection or  rebellion  against  the  United  States,  or  any  loss  or 
emancipation  of  any  slave,  but  such  debts,  obligations  and  claims 
shall  be  held  illegal  and  void. 

Sec.  5.  The  Congress  shall  have  the  power  to  enforce,  by  appro- 
priate legislation,  the  provisions  of  this  article. 

ARTICLE  XV. 

Sec.  1.  The  right  of  citizens  of  the  United  States  to  vote,  shall 
not  be  denied  or  abridged  by  the  United  States,  or  by  any  State,  on 
account  of  race,  color  or  previous  condition  of  servitude. 

Sec.  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  article  by  ap- 
propriate legislation. 


RULES  OF  THE  HOUSE. 


413 


STANDING  EULES  AND  OEDEE 

FOR  CONDUCTING  BUSINESS  IN  THE 

HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

As  Amended  at  the  ls£  Session  of  the  3 §th  Congress. 


TOUCHING  THE  DUTY  OF  THE  SPEAKER. 

1.  He  shall  take  the  chair  every  day  precisely  at  the  hour  to  which 
the  house  shall  have  adjourned  on  the  preceding  day;  shall  immedi- 
ately call  the  members  to  order;  and,  on  the  appearance  of  a quo- 
rum, shall  cause  the  journal  of  the  preceding  day  to  he  read. 

2.  He  shall  preserve  order  and  decorum ; may  speak  to  points  of 
order  in  preference  to  other  members,  rising  from  his  seat  for  that 
purpose  ; and  shall  decide  questions  of  order,  subject  to  an  appeal  to 
the  house  by  any  two  members — on  which  appeal  no  member  shall 
speak  more  than  once,  unless  by  leave  of  the  house. 

3.  He  shall  rise  to  put  a question,  but  may  state  it  sitting. 

4.  Questions  shall  be  distinctly  put  in  this  form,  to  wit : “As 
many  as  are  of  opinion  that  (as  the  question  may  be)  say  Aye  and 
after  the  affirmative  voice  is  expressed,  “As  many  as  are  of  the  con- 
trary opinion,  say  No.”  If  the  Speaker  doubt,  or  a division  be 
called  for,  the  house  shall  divide  ; those  in  the  affirmative  of  the 
question  shall  first  rise  from  their  seats,  and  afterwards  those  in  the 
negative.  If  the  Speaker  still  doubt,  or  a count  be  required  by  at 
least  one-fifth  of  the  quorum  of  the  members,  the  Speaker  shall 
name  two  members,  one  from  each  side,  to  tell  the  members  in  the 
affirmative  and  negative — which  being  reported,  he  shall  rise  and 
state  the  decision  to  the  house. 

5.  The  Speaker  shall  examine  and  correct  the  journal  before  it  is 
read.  He  shall  have  a general  direction  of  the  hall,  and  the  unap- 
propriated rooms  in  that  part  of  the  capitol  assigned  to  the  house, 
shall  be  subject  to  his  order  and  disposal  until  the  further  order  of 
the  house.  He  shall  have  a right  to  name  any  member  to  perform 
the  duties  of  the  chair,  but  such  substitution  shall  not  extend  beyond 
an  adjournment. 

6.  No  person  shall  be  permitted  to  perform  divine  service  in  the 
chamber  occupied  by  the  House  of  Representatives,  unless  with  the 
consent  of  the  Speaker. 

7.  In  all  cases  of  ballot  by  the  house,  the  Speaker  shall  vote;  in 
other  cases  he  shall  not  be  required  to  vote,  unless  the  house  be 


414 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


equally  divided,  or  unless  his  vote,  if  given  to  the  minority,  will 
make  the  division  equal ; and  in  case  of  such  equal  division,  the 
question  shall  be  lost. 

8.  All  acts,  addresses,  and  joint  resolutions,  shall  be  signed  by  the 
Speaker  ; and  all  writs,  warrants  and  subpoenas,  issued  by  order  of 
the  house,  shall  be  under  his  hand  and  seal,  attested  by  the  clerk. 

In  case  of  any  disturbance  or  disorderly  conduct  in  the  galle- 
ries or  lobby,  the  Speaker  (or*  chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Whole  House,)  shall  have  power  to  order  the  same  to  be  cleared. 

OF  THE  CLERK  AND  OTHER  OFFICERS. 

10.  There  shall  be  elected  at  the  commencement  of  each  Congress, 
to  continue  in  office  until  their  successors  are  appointed,  a clerk, 
sergeant-at-arms,  doorkeeper,  and  postmaster,  each  of  whom  shall 
take  an  oath  for  the  true  and  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
office,  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge  and  abilities,  and  to  keep  the  se- 
crets of  the  House ; and  the  appointees  of  the  door-keeper  and  post- 
master shall  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Speaker  ; and,  in  all 
cases  of  election  by  the  house  of  its  officers,  the  vote  shall  be  taken 
viva  voce . 

11.  In  all  cases  where  other  than  members  of  the  house  may  be 
eligible  to  an  office  by  the  election  of  the  house,  there  shall  be  a pre- 
vious nomination. 

12.  In  all  other  cases  of  ballot  than  for  committees,  a majority  of 
the  votes  given  shall  be  necessary  to  an  election  ; and  where  there 
shall  not  be  such  a majority  on  the  first  ballot,  the  ballots  shall  be  re- 
peated until  a majority  be  obtained.  And  in  all  ballotings  blanks 
shall  be  rejected,  and  not  taken  into  the  count  in  enumeration  of  the 
votes,  or  reported  by  the  tellers. 

13.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  clerk  to  make  and  cause  to  be 
printed  and  delivered  to  each  member  at  the  commencement  of  every 
session  of  Congress,  a list  of  the  reports  which  it  is  the  duty  of  any 
officer  or  department  of  the  government  to  make  to  Congress ; re- 
ferring to  the  act  or  resolution  and  page  of  the  volume  of  the  laws 
or  journal  in  which  it  may  be  contained,  and  placing  under  the  name 
of  each  officer  the  list  of  reports  required  to  be  made,  and  the  time 
when  the  report  may  be  expected. 

14.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  clerk  of  the  House  at  the  end  of  each 
session,  to  send  a printed  copy  of  the  journals  thereof  to  the  Execu- 
tive, and  to  each  branch  of  the  Legislature  of  every  State. 

15.  All  questions  of  order  shall  be  noted  by  the  clerk,  with  the  de- 
cision, and  put  together  at  the  end  of  the  journal  of  every  session. 

16.  The  clerk  shall,  within  thirty  days  after  the  close  of  each  ses- 
sion of  Congress,  cause  to  be  completed  the  printing  and  primary 
distribution,  to  members  and  delegates,  of  the  Journal  of  the  House, 
together  with  an  accurate  index  of  the  same. 

17.  There  shall  bo  retained  in  the  library  of  the  clerk’s  office,  for 
the  use  of  the  members  there,  and  not  to  be  withdrawn  therefrom, 


RULES  OE  THE  HOUSE.  415 

two  copies  of  all  the  books  and  printed  documents  deposited  in  the 
library. 

18.  The  clerk  shall  have  preserved  for  each  member  of  the  House, 
an  extra  copy,  in  good  binding,  of  all  the  documents  printed  by  order 
of  either  House  at  each  future  session  of  Congress. 

19.  The  clerk  shall  make  a weekly  statement  of  the  resolutions  and 
bills  (Senate  bills  inclusive)  upon  the  Speaker’s  table,  accompanied 
with  a brief  reference  to  the  orders  and  proceedings  of  the  house 
upon  each,  and  the  date  of  such  order  and  proceedings  ; which  state- 
ment shall  be  printed  for  the  use  of  the  members. 

20.  The  clerk  shall  cause  an  index  to  be  prepared  to  the  acts 
passed  at  every  session  of  Congress,  and  to  be  printed  and  bound  with 
the  acts. 

21.  All  contracts,  bargains,  or  agreements,  relative  to  the  furnish- 
ing any  matter  or  thing  or  for  the  performance  of  any  labor  for  the 
House  of  Representatives,  shall  be  made  with  the  clerk,  or  approved 
by  him,  before  any  allowance  shall  be  made  therefor  by  the  Commit- 
tee of  Accounts. 

22.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  sergeant-at-arms  to  attend  the 
house  during  its  sittings  ; to  aid  in  the  enforcement  of  order,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Speaker  ; to  execute  the  commands  of  the  house 
from  time  to  time  ; together  with  all  such  process,  issued  by  author- 
ity thereof,  as  shall  be  directed  to  him  by  the  Speaker. 

23.  The  symbol  of  his  office  (the  mace)-  shall  be  borne  by  the  ser- 
geant-at-arms  when  in  the  execution  of  his  office. 

24.  The  fees  of  the  sergeant-at-arms  shall  be  for  every  arrest,  the 
sum  of  two  dollars;  for  each  day’s  custody  and  releasement,  one  dol- 
lar ; and  for  traveling  expenses  for  himself  or  a special  messenger, 
going  and  returning,  one-tenth  of  a dollar  for  each  mile  necessarily 
and  actually  traveled  by  such  officer  or  other  person  in  the  execution 
of  such  precept  or  summons. 

25.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  sergeant-at-arms  to  keep  the  accounts 
for  the  pay  and  mileage  of  members,  to  prepare  checks,  and,  if  re- 
quired to  do  so,  to  draw  the  money  on  such  checks  for  the  members, 
(the  same  being  previously  signed  by  the  Speaker,  and  endorsed  by 
the  member,)  and  pay  over  the  same  to  the  member  entitled  thereto. 

26.  The  sergeant-at-arms  shall  give  bond,  with  surety,  to  the  Uni- 
ted States,  in  a sum  not  less  than  five  nor  more  than  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars, at  the  discretion  of  the  Speaker,  and  with  such  surety  as  the 
Speaker  may  approve,  faithfully  to  account  for  the  money  coming  in- 
to his  hands  for  the  pay  of  members. 

27.  The  doorkeeper  shall  execute  strictly  the  134th  and  135th  rules, 
relative  to  the  privilege  of  the  hall.  And  he  shall  be  required,  at 
the  commencement  and  close  of  each  session  of  Congress,  to  take  an 
inventory  of  all  the  furniture,  books,  and  other  public  property  mi 
the  several  committee  and  other  rooms  under  his  charge,  and  shall 
report  the  same  to  the  house  ; which  report  shall  be  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  Accounts,  who  shall  determine  the  amount  for  which 
he  shall  be  held  liable  for  missing  articles. 

27 


416 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


28.  The  postmaster  shall  superintend  the  post-office  kept  in  the 
capitol  for  the  accommodation  of  the  members. 

OF  THE  MEMBERS. 

29.  No  member  shall  vote  on  any  question  in  the  event  of  which 
he  is  immediately  and  particularly  interested,  or  in  any  case  where 
he  was  not  within  the  bar  of  the  house  when  the  question  was  put. 
And  when  any  member  shall  ask  leave  to  vote,  the  Speaker  shall  pro- 
pound to  him  the  question,  “Were  you  within  the  bar  before  the  last 
name  on  the  roll  was  called  ?”  and  if  he  shall  answer  in  the  negative 
the  Speaker  shall  not  further  entertain  the  request  of  such  member 
to  vote  : Provided,  however,  that  any  member  who  was  absent  by 
leave  of  the  house,  may  vote  at  any  time  before  the  result  is  an- 
nounced. 

30.  Upon  a division  and  count  of  the  house  on  any  question,  no 
member  without  the  bar  shall  be  counted. 

31.  Every  member  who  shall  be  in  the  house  when  the  question  is 
put,  shall  give  his  vote  unless  the  house  shall  excuse  him.  All  mo- 
tions to  excuse  a member  from  voting,  shall  be  made  before  the  house 
divides,  or  before  the  call  of  the  yeas  and  nays  is  commenced  ; and 
the  question  shall  then  be  taken  without  debate. 

32.  The  name  of  a member  who  presents  a petition  or  memorial,  or 
who  offers  a resolution  for  the  consideration  of  the  house,  shall  be  in- 
serted on  the  journals. 

33.  No  member  shall  absent  himself  from  the  service  of  the  house 
unless  he  have  leave,  or  be  sick  and  unable  to  attend. 

OF  CALLS  OF  THE  HOUSE. 

34.  Any  fifteen  members  (including  the  Speaker,  if  there  be  one), 
shall  be  authorized  to  compel  the  attendance  of  absent  members. 

35.  Upon  calls  of  the  house,  or  in  taking  the  yeas  and  nays  on  any 
question,  the  names  of  the  members  shall  be*called  alphabetically. 

36.  Upon  the  call  of  the  house,  the  names  of  the  members  shall 
be  called  over  by  the  clerk,  and  the  absentees  noted;  after  which  the 
names  of  the  absentees  shall  again  be  called  over ; the  doors  shall  then 
be  shut,  and  those  for  whom  no  excuse  or  insufficient  excuses  are 
made  may,  by  order  of  those  present,  if  fifteen  in  number,  be  taken 
into  custody  as  they  appear,  or  may  be  sent  for  and  taken  into  cus- 
tody, wherever  to  be  found,  by  special  messengers  to  be  appointed  for 
that  purpose. 

37.  When  a member  shall  be  discharged  from  custody,  and  admit- 
ted to  his  seat,  the  house  shall  determine  whether  such  discharge  shall 
be  with  or  without  paying  fees ; and  in  like  manner  whether  a delin- 
quent member,  taken  into  custody  by  a special  messenger,  shall  or 
shall  not  be  liable  to  defray  the  expenses  of  such  special  messenger. 

ON  MOTIONS,  THEIR  PRECEDENCE,  &C. 

38.  When  a motion  is  made  and  seconded,  it  shall  be  stated  by  the 
Speaker;  or,  being' in  writing,  it  shall  be  handed  to  the  chair  and 
read  aloud  by  the  clerk,  before  debated. 


RULES  OF  THE  HOUSE. 


417 


39.  Every  motion  shall  be  reduced  to  writing  if  the  Speaker  or  any 
member  desire  it.  Every  written  motion  made  to  the  house  shall  be 
inserted  on  the  journals,  with  the  name  of  the  member  making  it, 
unless  it  be  withdrawn  on  the  same  day  on  which  it  was  submitted. 

40.  After  a motion  is  stated  by  the  Speaker,  or  read  by  the  clerk,  it 
shall  be  deemed  to  be  in  the  possession  of  the  house,  but  may  be  with- 
drawn at  any  time  before  a decision  or  amendment. 

41.  When  any  motion  or  proposition  is  made,  the  question,  11  Will 
the  house  now  consider  it?  ” shall  not  be  put  unless  it  is  demanded  by 
some  member,  or  is  deemed  necessary  by  the  Speaker. 

42.  When  a question  is  under  debate,  no  motion  shall  be  received 
but  to  adjourn,  to  lie  on  the  table,  for  the  previous  question,  to  post- 
pone to  a day  certain,  to  commit  or  amend,  to  postpone  indefinitely; 
which  several  motions  shall  have  precedence  in  the  order  in  which 
they  are  arranged;  and  no  motion  to  postpone  to  a day  certain,  to 
commit,  or  to  postpone  indefinitely,  being  decided,  shall  be  again  al- 
lowed on  the  same  day,  and  at  the  same  stage  of  the  bill  or  proposition. 

48.  When  a resolution  shall  be  offered,  or  a motion  made,  to  refer 
any  subject,  and  different  committees  shall  be  proposed,  the  question 
shall  be  taken  in  the  following  order  : 

The  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  on  the  state  of  the  Union ; the 
Committee  of  the  Whole  House;  a Standing  Committee;  a Select 
Committee. 

44.  A motion  to  adjourn,  and  a motion  to  fix  the  day  to  which  the 
house  shall  adjourn,  shall  be  always  in  order;  these  motions  and  the 
motion  to  lie  on  the  table,  shall  be  decided  without  debate. 

45.  The  hour  at  which  every  motion  to  adjourn  is  made  shall  be  en- 
tered on  the  journal. 

46.  Any  member  may  call  for  the  division  of  a question,  before  or 
after  the  main  question  is  ordered,  which  shall  be  divided  if  it  com- 
prehend propositions  in  substance  so  distinct  that,  one  being  taken 
away,  a substantive  proposition  shall  remain  for  the  decision  of  the 
house.  A motion  to  strike  out  and  insert  shall  be  deemed  indivisible ; 
but  a motion  to  strike  out  being  lost,  shall  preclude  neither  amend- 
ment nor  a motion  to  strike  out  and  insert. 

47.  Motions  and  reports  may  be  committed  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
house. 

48.  Ho  motion  or  proposition  on  a subject  different  from  that  under 
consideration  shall  be  admitted  under  color  of  amendment.  Ho  bill 
or  resolution  shall,  at  any  time,  be  amended  by  annexing  thereto,  or 
incorporating  therewith,  any  other  bill  or  resolution  pending  before 
the  house. 

49.  When  a motion  has  been  once  made,  and  carried  in  the  affirma- 
tive or  negative,  it  shall  be  in  order  for  any  member  of  the  majority 
to  move  for  the  reconsideration  thereof,  on  the  same  or  succeeding 
day ; and  such  motion  shall  take  precedence  of  all  other  questions,  ex- 
cept a motion  to  adjourn,  and  shall  not  be  withdrawn  after  the  said 
succeeding  day  without  the  consent  of  the  house ; and  thereafter  any 
member  may  call  it  up  for  consideration. 


418 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


50.  In  filling  up  blanks,  the  largest  sum  and  longest  time  shall  be 
first  put. 

ORDER  OF  BUSINESS  OF  THE  DAY. 

51.  As  soon  as  the  journal  is  read,  and  the  unfinished  business  in 
which  the  house  was  engaged  at  the  last  preceding  adjournment  has 
been  disposed  of,  reports  from  committees  shall  be  called  for  and  dis- 
posed of ; in  doing  which  the  Speaker  shall  call  upon  each  standing 
committee  in  regular  order,  and  then  upon  select  committees  ; and  if 
the  Speaker  shall  not  get  through  the  call  upon  the  committees  be- 
fore the  house  passes  to  other  business,  he  shall  resume  the  next  call 
where  he  left  off,  giving  preference  to  the  report  last  under  consider- 
ation : Provided,  That  whenever  any  committee  shall  have  occupied 
the  morning  hour  on  two  days,  it  shall  not  be  in  order  for  such  com- 
mittee to  report  further  until  the  other  committees  shall  have  been 
called  in  their  turn.  On  the  call  for  reports  from  committees  on  each 
alternate  Monday,  which  shall  commence  as  soon  as  the  journal  is 
read,  all  bills  reported  during  the  first  hour  after  the  journal  is  read 
shall  be  committed,  without  debate,  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole, 
and  together  with  their  accompanying  reports,  printed  ; and  if  dur- 
ing the  hour  all  the  committees  are  not  called,  then,  on  the  next  al- 
ternate Monday,  the  Speaker  shall  commence  where  such  call  was 
suspended  : Provided,  That  no  bill  reported  under  the  call  on  alter- 
nate Mondays,  and  committed,  shall  be  again  brought  before  the 
house  by  a motion  to  reconsider. 

52.  Reports  from  committees  having  been  presented  and  disposed 
of,  the  Speaker  shall  call  for  resolutions  from  the  members  of  each 
State  and  delegate  from  each  Territory,  beginning  with  Maine  and 
the  Territory  last  organized,  alternately  ; and  they  shall  not  be  de- 
bated on  the  very  day  of  their  being  presented,  nor  on  any  day  as- 
signed by  the  house  for  the  receipt  of  resolutions,  unless  where  the 
house  shall  direct  otherwise,  but  shall  lie  on  the  table,  to  be  taken  up 
in  the  order  in  which  they  are  presented ; and  if  on  any  day  the 
whole  of  the  States  and  Territories  shall  not  be  called,  the  Speaker 
shall  begin  on  the  next  day  where  he  left  off*  the  previous  day  : Pro- 
vided, That  no  member  shall  offer  more  than  one  resolution,  or  one 
series  of  resolutions,  all  relating  to  the  same  subject,  until  all  the 
States  and  Territories  shall  have  been  called. 

53.  A proposition  requesting  information  from  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  or  directing  it  to  be  furnished  by  the  head  of 
either  of  the  Executive  departments,  or  by  the  Postmaster  General — 
shall  lie  on  the  table  one  day  for  consideration,  unless  otherwise  or- 
dered by  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  house,  and  all  such  proposi- 
tions shall  be  taken  up  for  consideration  in  the  order  they  were 
presented,  immediately  after  reports  are.called  for  from  select  commit- 
tees, and  when  adopted,  the  clerk  shall  cause  the  same  to  be  delivered. 

54.  After  one  hour  shall  have  been  devoted  to  reports  from  com- 
mittees and  resolutions,  it  shall  be  in  order,  pending  the  considera- 
tion or  discussion  thereof,  to  entertain  a motion  that  the  house  do 
now  proceed  to  dispose  of  the  business  on  the  Speaker's  table,  and  to 


EULES  OF  THE  HOUSE. 


419 


the  orders  of  the  day — which  being  decided  in  the  affirmative,  the 
Speaker  shall  dispose  of  the  business  on  his  table  in  the  following  or- 
der, viz. : 

1st.  Messages  and  other  Executive  communications. 

2d.  Messages  from  the  Senate,  and  amendments  proposed  by  the 
Senate  to  bills  of  the  house. 

3d.  Bills  and  resolutions  from  the  Senate  on  their  first  and  second 
reading,  that  they  be  referred  to  committees  and  put  under  way ; 
but  if,  on  being  read  a second  time,  no  motion  being  made  to 
commit,  they  are  to  be  ordered  to  their  third  reading  unless  ob- 
jection be  made  ; in  which  case,  if  not  otherwise  ordered  by  a 
majority  of  the  house,  they  are  to  be  laid  on  the  table  in  general 
file  of  bills  on  the  Speaker's  table,  to  be  taken  up  in  their  turn. 
4th.  Engrossed  bills  and  bills  from  the  Senate  on  their  third  reading. 
5th.  Bills  of  the  house  and  from  the  Senate,  on  the  Speaker's  table, 
on  their  engrossment,  or  on  being  ordered  to  a third  reading,  to 
be  taken  up  and  considered  in  the  order  of  time  in  which  they 
passed  to  a second  reading. 

The  messages,  communications,  and  bills  on  his  table  having  been 
disposed  of,  the  Speaker  shall  then  proceed  to  call*  the  orders  of  the 
day. 

55.  The  business  specified  in  the  54th  and  130th  rules  shall  be 
done  at  no  other  part  of  the  day,  except  by  permission  of  the 
house. 

56.  The  consideration  of  the  unfinished  business  in  which  the 
house  may  be  engaged  at  an  adjournment  shall  be  resumed  as  soon 
as  the  journal  of  the  next  day  is  read,  and  at  the  same  time  each  day 
thereafter  until  disposed  of ; and  if,  from  any  cause  other  business 
shall  intervene,  it  shall  be  resumed  as  soon  as  such  other  business 
is  disposed  of.  And  the  consideration  of  all  other  unfinished  busi- 
ness shall  be  resumed  whenever  the  class  of  business  to  which  it  be- 
longs shall  be  in  order  under  the  rules. 

OF  DECORUM  AND  DEBATE. 

57.  When  any  member  is  about  to  speak  in  debate,  or  deliver  any 
matter  to  the  House,  he  shall  rise  from  his  seat  and  respectfully  ad- 
dress himself  to  “ Mr.  Speaker  " — and  shall  confine  himself  to  the 
question  under  debate,  and  avoid  personality. 

58.  Members  may  address  the  house  or  committee  from  the  clerk's 
desk,  or  from  a place  near  the  Speaker's  chair. 

59.  When  two  or  more  members  happen  to  rise  at  once,  the 
Speaker  shall  name  the  member  who  is  first  to  speak. 

60.  Ho  member  shall  occupy  more  than  one  hour  in  debate  on  any 
question  in  the  house,  or  in  committee  ; but  a member  reporting  the 
measure  under  consideration  from  a committee  may  open  and  close 
the  debate,  provided  that  when  debate  is  closed  by  order  of  the 
house,  any  member  shall  be  allowed,  in  committee,  five  minutes  to 
explain  any  amendment  he  may  offer,  after  which  any  member  who 
shall  first  obtain  the  floor  shall  be  allowed  to  speak  five  minutes  in 
opposition  to  it,  and  there  shall  be  no  further  debate  on  the  amend- 


420 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


ment ; but  the  same  privilege  of  debate  shall  be  allowed  in  favor  of 
and  against  any  amendment  that  may  be  offered  to  the  amendment ; 
and  neither  the  amendment  nor  an  amendment  to  the  amendment 
shall  be  withdrawn  by  the  mover  thereof,  unless  by  the  unanimous 
consent  of  the  committee.  Provided  further,  that  the  house  may, 
by  the  vote  of  a majority  of  the  members  present,  at  any  time  after 
the  five  minutes  debate  has  taken  place  upon  proposed  amendments 
to  any  section  or  paragraph  of  a bill,  close  all  debate  upon  such  sec- 
tion or  paragraph,  or  at  their  election  upon  the  pending  amend- 
ments only. 

61.  If  any  member  in  speaking  or  otherwise,  transgress  the  rules 
of  the  house,  the  Speaker  shall,  or  any  member  may  call  him  to 
order ; in  which  case  the  member  so  called  to  order  shall  im- 
mediately sit  down,  unless  permitted  to  explain ; and  the  house 
shall,  if  appealed  to,  decide  on  the  case,  but  without  debate  ; if  there 
be  no  appeal  the  decision  of  the  chair  shall  be  submitted  to.  If  the 
decision  be  in  favor  of  the  member  called  to  order,  he  shall  be  at  lib- 
erty to  proceed ; if  otherwise,  he  shall  not  be  permitted  to  proceed, 
in  case  any  member  object,  without  leave  of  the  house ; and  if  the 
case  require  it,  he  shall  be  liable  to  the  censure  of  the  house. 

62.  If  a member  be  called  to  order  for  words  spoken  in  debate, 
the  person  calling  him  to  order  shall  repeat  the  words  excepted  to, 
and  they  shall  be  taken  down  in  writing  at  the  clerk’s  table  ; and  no 
member  shall  be  held  to  answer,  or  be  subject  to  the  censure  of  the 
house,  for  words  spoken  in  debate,  if  any  other  member  has  spoken, 
or  other  business  has  intervened,  after  the  words  spoken,  and  before 
exception  to  them  shall  have  been  taken. 

63.  No  member  shall  speak  more  than  once  to  the  same  question 
without  leave  of  the  house,  unless  he  be  the  mover,  proposer  or  in- 
troducer of  the  matter  pending  ; in  which  case  he  shall  be  permitted 
to  speak  in  reply,  but  not  until  every  member  choosing  to  speak  shall 
have  spoken. 

64.  If  a question  depending  be  lost  by  adjournment  of  the  House, 
and  revived  on  the  succeeding  day,  no  member  who  shall  have 
spoken  on  the  preceding  day  shall  be  permitted  again  to  speak 
without  leave. 

65.  While  the  Speaker  is  putting  any  question,  or  addressing  the 
house,  none  shall  walk  out  of  or  across  the  house  ; nor  in  such  case, 
or  when  a member  is  speaking,  shall  entertain  private  discourse ; 
nor  while  a member  is  speaking,  shall  pass  between  him  and  the 
chair.  Every  member  shall  remain  uncovered  during  the  session  of 
the  house.  No  member  or  other  person  shall  visit  or  remain  by  the 
clerk’s  table  while  the  ayes  and  noes  are  calling,  or  ballots  are 
counting. 

66.  All  questions  relating  to  the  priority  of  business  to  be  acted  on 
shall  be  decided  without  debate. 

OF  COMMITTEES. 

67.  All  committees  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Speaker,  unless  other- 
wise specially  directed  by  the  house,  in  wliich  case  they  shall  be  up- 


RULES  OF  THE  HOUSE. 


421 


pointed  by  ballot ; and  if  upon  such  ballot  the  number  required  shall 
not  be  elected  by  a majority  of  the  votes  given,  the  house  shall  pro- 
ceed to  a second  ballot,  in  which  a plurality  of  votes  shall  prevail ; 
and  in  case  a greater  number  than  is  required  to  compose  or  com- 
plete a committee  shall  have  an  equal  number  of  votes,  the  house 
shall  proceed  to  a further  ballot  or  ballots. 

68.  The  first  named  member  of  any  committee  shall  be  the  chair- 
man ; and  in  his  absence,  or  being  excused  by  the  house,  the  next 
named  member,  and  so  on,  as  often  as  the  case  shall  happen,  unless 
the  committee,  by  a majority  of  their  number,  elect  a chairman. 

69.  Any  member  may  excuse  himself  from  serving  on  any  com- 
mittee at  the  time  of  his  appointment,  if  he  is  then  a member  of  two 
other  committees. 

70.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  a committee  to  meet  on  the  call  of  any 
two  of  its  members,  if  the  chairman  be  absent,  or  decline  to  appoint 
such  meeting. 

71.  The  several  standing  committees  of  the  house  shall  have  leave 
to  report  by  bill  or  otherwise. 

72.  No  committee  shall  sit  during  the  sitting  of  the  house  without 
special  leave. 

73.  No  committee  shall  be  permitted  to  employ  a clerk  at  the  pub- 
lic expense,  without  first  obtaining  leave  of  the  house  for  that  purpose. 

74.  Thirty-one  standing  committees  shall  be  appointed  at  the  com- 
mencement ofs  each  Congress,  viz.  : 

TO  CONSIST  OF  NINE  MEMBERS  EACH — 

A Committee  of  Elections. — Nov.  13,  1789. 

A Committee  of  Ways  and  Means. — Jan.  7,  1802. 

A Committee  on  Appropriations. — March  2,  1865. 

A Committee  on  Banking  and  Currency. — March  2,  1865. 

A Committee  on  the  Pacific  Railroad. — March  2,  1865. 

A Committee  on  Claims. — Nov.  13,  1794. 

A Committee  on  Commerce. — Dec.  14,  1795. 

A Committee  on  Public  Lands. — Dec.  17,  1805. 

A Committee  on  the  Post-Office  and  Post-Roads. — Nov.  9,  1808. 

A Committee  for  the  District  of  Columbia. — Jan.  27,  1808. 

A Committee  on  the  Judiciary. — June  3,  1813. 

A Committee  on  Revolutionary  Claims. — Dec.  22,  1813. 

A Committee  on  Public  Expenditures. — Feb.  26,  1814. 

A Committee  on  Private  Land  Claims. — April  29,  1816. 

A Committee  on  Manufactures. — Dec.  8,  1819. 

A Committee  on  Agriculture. — May  3,  1820. 

A Committee  on  Indian  Affairs. — Dec.  18,  1821. 

A Committee  on  Military  Affairs. — March  13,  1822. 

A Committee  on  Militia. — Dec.  10,  1835. 

A Committee  on  Naval  Affairs. — March  13,  1822. 

A Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs. — March  13,  1822. 

A Committee  on  the  Territories. — Dec.  13,  1825. 

A Committee  on  Revolutionary  Pensions. — Dec.  9,  1825. 


422 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


A Committee  on  Invalid  Pensions. — Jan.  10,  1831. 

A Committee  on  Roads  and  Canals. — Dec.  15,  1831. 

A Committee  on  Patents. — Sept.  15,  1837. 

TO  CONSIST  OF  FIVE  MEMBERS  EACH — 

A Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds. — Sept.  15, 1837. 

A Committee  of  Revisal  and  Unfinished  Business. — Dec.  14.  1795. 

A Committee  on  Accounts. — Nov.  7,  1804, 

A Committee  on  Mileage. — Sept  15,  1837. 

A Committee  on  Coinage,  Weights  and  Measures. — Jan.  21,  1864. 

75.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  of  Elections  to  examine 
and  .report  upon  the  certificates  of  election,  or  other  credentials,  of 
the  members  returned  to  serve  in  this  house,  and  to  take  into  their 
consideration  ^11  such  petitions  and  other  matters  touching  elections 
and  returns  as  shall  or  may  be  presented  or  come  into  question,  and 
be  referred  to  them  by  the  house. 

76.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Appropriations  to 
take  into  consideration  all  Executive  communications  and  such  other 
propositions  in  regard  to  carrying  on  the  several  departments  of  the 
government  as  may  be  presented  and  referred  to  them  by  the  house. 

In  preparing  bills  of  appropriations  for  other  objects,  the  Com- 
mittee on  Appropriations  shall  not  include  appropriations  for  carry- 
ing into  effect  treaties  made  by  the  United  States  ; and  where  an  ap- 
propriation bill  shall  be  referred  to  them  for  their  consideration, 
which  contains  appropriations  for  carrying  a treaty  into  effect,  and 
for  other  objects,  they  shall  propose  such  amendments  as  shall  pre- 
vent appropriations  for  carrying  a treaty  into  effect  being  included 
in  the  same  bill  with  appropriations  for  other  objects. 

77.  It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Appropriations, 
within  thirty  days  after  their  appointment,  at  every  session  of  Con- 
gress, commencing  on  the  first  Monday  of  December,  to  report  the 
general  appropriation  bills  for  legislative,  executive,  and  judicial 
expenses  ; for  sundry  civil  expenses  ; for  consular  and  diplomatic  ex- 
penses ; for  the  army  ; for  the  navy  ; for  the  expenses  of  the  Indian 
Department ; for  the  payment  of  invalid  and  other  pensions  ; for  the 
support  of  the  Military  Academy  ; for  fortifications  ; for  the  service 
of  the  Post-office  Department,  and  for  mail  transportation  by  ocean 
steamers  ; or,  in  failure  thereof,  the  reasons  of  such  failure.  And 
said  committee  shall  have  leave  to  report  said  bills  (for  reference 
only)  at  any  time. 

78.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  of  Claims  to  take  into 
consideration  all  such  petitions  and  matters  or  things  touching  claims 
and  demands  on  the  United  States  as  shall  be  presented,  or  shall  or 
may  come  in  question,  and  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house  ; and 
to  report  their  opinion  thereupon,  together  with  such  propositions 
for  relief  therein  as  to  them  shall  seem  expedient. 

79.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Commerce  to  take 
into  consideration  all  such  petitions  and  matters  or  things  touching 
the  commerce  of  the  United  States  as  shall  be  presented,  or  shall  or 


RULES  OF  THE  HOUSE.  423 

may  come  into  question,  and  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house  ; and 
to  report,  from  time  to  time,  their  opinion  thereon. 

80.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  the  Public  Lands  to 
take  into  consideration  all  such  petitions  and  matters  or  things  res- 
pecting the  lands  of  the  United  States  as  shall  be  presented,  or  shall 
or  may  come  in  question,  and  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house  ; and 
to  report  their  opinion  thereon,  together  with  such  propositions  for 
relief  therein  as  to  them  shall  seem  expedient. 

81.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  the  Post-Office  and 
Post-Koads  to  take  into  consideration  all  such  petitions  and  matters 
or  things  touching  the  post-office  and  post-roads  as  shall  be  presented, 
or  shall  come  in  question,  and  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house  ; 
and  to  report  their  opinion  thereon,  together  with  such  propositions 
relative  thereto  as  to  them  shall  seem  expedient. 

82.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  for  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia to  take  into  consideration  all  such  petitions  and  matters  or 
things  touching  the  said  District  as  shall  be  presented  or  shall  come 
in  question,  and  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house  ; and  to  report 
their  opinion  thereon,  together  with  such  propositions  relative  thereto 
as  to  them  shall  seem  expedient. 

83.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  the  Judiciary  to  take 
into  consideration  such  petitions  and  matters  or  things  touching  ju- 
dicial proceedings  as  shall  be  presented  or  may  come  in  question,  and 
be  referred  to  them  by  the  house,  and  to  report  their  opinion  thereon, 
together  with  such  propositions  relative  thereto  as  to  them  shall  seem 
expedient. 

84.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Revolutionary  Claims 
to  take  into  consideration  all  such  petitions  and  matters  or  things 
touching  claims  and  demands  originating  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
or  arising  therefrom,  as  shall  be  presented,  or  shall  or  may  come  in 
question,  and  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house,  and  to  report  their 
opinion  thereupon,  together  with  such  propositions  for  relief  therein 
as  to  them  shall  seem  expedient. 

85.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Expenditures 
to  examine  into  the  state  of  the  several  public  departments,  and  par- 
ticularly into  laws  making  appropriations  of  money,  and  to  report 
whether  the  moneys  have  been  disbursed  conformably  with  such  laws  ; 
and  also  to  report  from  time  to  time  such  provisions  and  arrangements 
as  may  be  necessary  to  add  to  the  economy  of  the  departments,  and 
the  accountability  of  their  officers. 

86.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Private  Land  Claims 
to  take  into  consideration  all  claims  to  land  which  may  be  referred 
to  them,  or  shall  or  may  come  in  question  ; and  to  report  their  opin- 
ion thereupon,  together  with  such  propositions  for  relief  therein  as 
to  them  shall  seem  expedient. 

87.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs  to 
take  into  consideration  all  subjects  relating  to  the  military  establish- 
ment and  public  defense  which  may  be  referred  to  them  by  the 
house,  and  to  report  their  opinion  thereupon  ; and  also  to  report, 


424 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


from  time  to  time,  such  measures  as  may  contribute  to  economy  and 
accountability  in  the  said  establishment. 

88.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  the  Militia  to  take 
into  consideration  and  report  on  all  subjects  connected  with  the  or- 
ganizing, arming  and  disciplining  the  militia  of  the  United  States. 

89.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Naval  Affairs  to  take 
into  consideration  all  matters  which  concern  the  naval  establishment, 
and  which  shall  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house,  and  to  report  their 
opinion  thereupon  ; and  also  to  report,  from  time  to  time,  such  mea- 
sures as  may  contribute  to  economy  and  accountability  in  the  said 
establishment. 

90.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  to 
take  into  consideration  all  matters  which  concern  the  relations  of  the 
United  States  with  foreign  nations,  and  which  shall  be  referred  to 
them  by  the  house,  and  to  report  their  opinion  on  the  same. 

91.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  the  Territories  to  ex- 
amine into  the  legislative,- civil  and  criminal  proceedings  of  the  Ter- 
ritories, and  to  devise  and  report  to  the  house  such  means  as  in  their 
opinion  may  be  necessary  to  secure  the  rights  and  privileges  of  resi- 
dents and  non-residents. 

92.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Revolutionary  Pen- 
sions to  take  into  consideration  all  such  matters  respecting  pensions 
for  services  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  other  than  invalid  pensions, 
as  shall  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house. 

93.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Invalid  Pensions  to 
take  into  consideration  all  such  matters  respecting  invalid  pensions 
as  shall  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house. 

94.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Roads  and  Canals  to 
take  into  consideration  all  such  petitions  and  matters  or  things  rela- 
ting to  roads  and  canals,  and  the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of 
rivers,  as  shall  be  presented  or  may  come  in  question,  and  be  referred 
to  them  by  the  house,  and  to  report  thereupon,  together  with  such 
propositions  relative  thereto  as  to  them  shall  seem  expedient. 

95.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Patents  to  consider 
all  subjects  relating  to  patents  which  may  be  referred  to  them  ; and 
report  their  opinions  thereon,  together  with  such  propositions  rela- 
tive thereto  as  may  seem  to  them  expedient. 

96.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Building^ 
and  Grounds  to  consider  all  subjects  relating  to  the  public  edifices 
and  grounds  within  the  city  of  Washington  which  may  be  refer- 
red to  them  ; and  report  their  opinion  thereon,  together  with  such 
propositions  relating  thereto  as  may  seem  to  them  expedient. 

97.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  of  Revisal  and  Unfin- 
ished Business  to  examine  and  report  what  laws  have  expired,  or  are 
near  expiring,  and  require  to  be  revived  or  further  continued  ; also 
to  examine  and  report,  from  the  journal  of  last  session,  all  such  mat- 
ters as  were  then  depending  and  undetermined. 

98.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  of  Accounts  to  superin- 
tend and  control  the  expenditures  of  the  contingent  fund  of  the 


RULES  OF  THE  HOUSE.  425 

House  of  Bepresentatives ; also  to  audit  and  settle  all  accounts  which 
may  he  charged  thereon. 

99.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Mileage  to  ascertain 
and  report  the  distance  to  the  sergeant-at-arms  for  which  each  mem- 
ber shall  receive  pay. 

100.  There  shall  be  referred  by  the  clerk  to  the  members  of  the 
Committee  on  Printing  on  the  part  of  the  house,  all  drawings,  maps, 
charts,  or  other  papers  which  may  at  any  time  come  before  the 
house  for  engraving,  lithographing,  or  publishing  in  any  way  ; 
which  committee  shall  report  to  the  house  whether  the  same  ought, 
in  their  opinion,  to  be  published  ; and  if  the  house  order  the  publica- 
tion of  the  same,  that  said  committee  shall  direct  the  size  and  man- 
ner of  execution  of  all  such  maps,  charts,  drawings,  or  other  papers, 
and  contract  by  agreement,  in  writing,  for  all  such  engraving,  litho- 
graphing, printing,  drawing,  and  coloring,  as  may  be  ordered  by  the 
house  ; which  agreement,  in  writing,  shall  be  furnished  by  said  com- 
mittee to  the  Committee  of  Accounts,  to  govern  said  committee  in  all 
allowances  for  such  works,  and  it  shall  be  in  order  for  said  commit- 
tee to  report  at  all  times. 

101.  It  shall  be  in  order  for  the  Committee  on  Enrolled  Bills  and 
the  Committee  on  Printing  to  report  at  any  time. 

102.  Seven  additional  standing  committees  shall  be  appointed  at 
the  commencement  of  the  first  session  in  each  Congress,  whose  du- 
ties shall  continue  until  the  first  session  of  the  ensuing  Congress. 

COMMITTEES,  TO  CONSIST  OF  FIVE  MEMBERS  EACH — 

1.  A committee  on  so  much  of  the  public  accounts  and  expendi- 
tures as  relates  to  the  Department  of  State  ; 

2.  A committee  on  so  much  of  the  public  accounts  and  expendi- 
tures tis  relates  to  the  Treasury  Department ; 

3.  A committee  on  so  much  of  the  public  accounts  and  expendi- 
tures as  relates  to  the  Department  of  War ; 

4.  A committee  on  so  much  of  the  public  accounts  and  expendi- 
tures as  relates  to  the  Department  of  the  Havy  ; 

5.  A committee  on  so  much  of  the  public  accounts  and  expendi- 
tures as  relates  to  the  Post  Office  ; 

6.  A committee  on  so  much  of  the  public  accounts  and  expendi- 
tures as  relates  to  the  Public  Buildings ; and 

7.  A committee  on  so  much  of  the  public  accounts  and  expendi- 
tures as  relates  to  the  Interior  Department. 

103.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  committees  to  examine  into 
the  state  of  the  accounts  and  expenditures  respectively  submitted  to 
them,  and  to  inquire  and  to  report  particularly — 

Whether  the  expenditures  of  the  respective  departments  are  justi- 
fied by  law  ; 

Whether  the  claims  from  time  to  time  satisfied  and  discharged 
by  the  respective  departments  are  supported  by  sufficient  vouchers, 
establishing  their  justness  both  as  to  their  character  and  amount. 

Whether  such  claims  have  been  discharged  out  of  funds  appropria- 


426 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


ted  therefor,  and  whether  all  moneys  have  been  disbursed  in  conform- 
ity with  appropriation  laws  ; and 

Whether  any,  and  what,  provisions  are  necessary  to  be  adopted,  to 
provide  more  perfectly  for  the  proper  application  of  the  public  mon- 
eys, and  to  secure  the  government  from  demands  unjust  in  their 
character  or  extravagant  in  their  amount. 

And  it  shall  he,  moreover,  the  duty  of  the  said  committees  to  re- 
port, from  time  to  time,  whether  any,  and  what,  retrenchment  can 
be  made  in  the  expenditures  of  the  several  departments,  without  det- 
riment to  the  public  service;  whether  any,  and  what,  abuses  at  any 
time  exist  in  the  failure  to  enforce  the  payment  of  moneys  which  may 
be  due  to  the  United  States  from  public  defaulters  or  others  ; and  to 
report,  from  time  to  time,  such  provisions  and  arrangements  as  may 
be  necessary  to  add  to  the  economy  of  the  several  departments  and 
the  accountability  of  their  officers. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  several  committees  on  public  expendi- 
tures to  inquire  whether  any  officers  belonging  to  the  branches  or 
departments,  respectively,  concerning  whose  expenditures  it  is  their 
duty  to  inquire,  have  become  useless  or  unnecessary  ; and  to  report 
from  time  to  time,  on  the  expediency  of  modifying  or  abolishing  the 
same ; also  to  examine  into  the  pay  and  emoluments  of  all  officers 
under  the  laws  of  the  United  States;  and  to  report  from  time  to 
time  such  a reduction  or  increase  thereof  as  a just  economy  and  the 
public  service  may  require. 

OF  COMMITTEES  OF  THE  WHOLE. 

104.  The  House  may  at  any  time,  by  a vote  of  a majority  of  the 
members  present,  suspend  the  rules  and  orders  for  the  purpose  of 
going  into  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  on  the  State  of  the 
Union  ; and  also  for  providing  for  the  discharge  of  the  Committee 
of  the  Whole  House,  and  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  on  the 
State  of  the  Union,  from  the  further  consideration  of  any  bill  re- 
ferred to  it,  after  acting  without  debate  on  all  amendments  pending 
and  that  may  be  offered. 

105.  In  forming  a Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  the  Speaker 
shall  leave  his  chair,  and  a chairman  to  preside  in  committee  shall 
be  appointed  by  the  Speaker. 

106.  Whenever  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  on  the  State  of  the 
Union,  or  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  finds  itself  without 
a quorum,  the  chairman  shall  cause  the  roll  of  the  house  to  be  called, 
and  thereupon  the  committee  shall  rise,  and  the  chairman  shall  re- 
port the  names  of  the  absentees  to  the  house,  which  shall  be  entered 
on  the  journal. 

107.  Upon  bills  committed  to  a Committee  of  the  Whole  House, 
the  bill  shall  be  first  read  throughout  by  the  clerk,  and  then  again 
read  and  debated  by  clauses,  leaving  the  preamble  to  be  last  consid- 
ered ; the  body  of  the  bill  shall  not  be  defaced  or  interlined ; but  all 
amendments,  noting  the  page  and  line,  shall  be  duly  entered  by  the 
clerk  on  a separate  paper,  as  the  same  shall  be  agreed  to  by  the  com- 


RULES  OE  THE  HOUSE. 


427 


mittee,  and  so  reported  to  the  house.  After  report,  the  bill  shall 
again  be  subject  to  he  debated  and  amended  by  clauses,  before  a 
question  to  engross  it  be  taken. 

108.  All  amendments  made  to  an  original  motion  in  committee 
shall  be  incorporated  with  the  motion,  and  so  reported. 

109.  All  amendments  made  to  a report  committed  to  a Committee 
of  the  Whole  House  shall  be  noted  and  reported,  as  in  the  case  of 
bills. 

110.  Ho  motion  or  proposition  for  a tax  or  charge  upon  the  people 
shall  he  discussed  the  day  on  which  it  is  made  or  offered,  and  every 
such  proposition  shall  receive  its  first  discussion  in  a Committee  of 
the  Whole  House. 

111.  Ho  sum  or  quantum  of  tax  or  duty,  voted  by  a Committee  of 
the  Whole  House,  shall  be  increased  in  the  House  until  the  motion 
or  proposition  for  such  increase  shall  be  first  discussed  and  voted  in  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole  House  ; and  so  in  respect  to  the  time  of  its 
continuance. 

112.  All  proceedings  touching  appropriations  of  money  shall  be 
first  discussed  in  a Committee  of  the  Whole  House. 

113.  The  rules  of  proceedings  in  the  house  shall  be  observed  in  a 
Committee  of  the  Whole  House,  so  far  as  they  may  be  applicable, 
except  the  rule  limiting  the  times  of  speaking  ; but  no  member  shall 
speak  twice  to  any  question  until  every  member  choosing  to  speak 
shall  have  spoken. 

114.  In  Committee  of  the  Whole  on  the  State  of  the  Union,  the 
bills  shall  be  taken  up  and  disposed  of  in  their  order  on  the  calen- 
dar ; but  when  objection  is  made  to  the  consideration  of  a bill,  a 
majority  of  the  committee  shall  decide,  without  debate,  whether  it 
shall  be  taken  up  and  disposed  of,  or  laid  aside ; provided,  that  gen- 
eral appropriation  bills,  and,  in  time  of  war,  bills  for  raising  men  or 
money,  and  bills  concerning  a treaty  of  peace,  shall  be  preferred  to 
all  other  bills  at  the  discretion  of  the  committee ; and  when  de- 
manded by  any  member,  the  question  shall  first  be  put  in  regard  to 
them ; and  all  debate  on  special  orders  shall  be  confined  strictly  to 
the  measure  under  consideration. 

OF  BILLS. 

115.  Every  bill  shall  be  introduced  on  the  report  of  a committee, 
or  by  motion  for  leave.  In  the  latter  case,  at  least  one  day’s  notice 
shall  be  given  of  the  motion  in  the  house,  or  by  filing  a memoran- 
dum thereof  with  the  clerk,  and  having  it  entered  on  the  journal ; 
and  the  motion  shall  be  made,  and  the  bill  introduced,  if  leave  is 
given,  when  resolutions  are  called  for  ; such  motion,  or  the  bill  when 
intoduced,  may  be  committed. 

116.  Every  bill  shall  receive  three  several  readings  in  the  house 
previous  to  its  passage ; and  the  bills  shall  be  dispatched  in  order  as 
they  were  introduced,  unless  where  the  house  shall  direct  otherwise; 
but  no  bill  shall  be  twice  read  on  the  same  day,  without  special  order 
of  the  house. 


428 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


117.  The  first  reading  of  a bill  shall  be  for  information,  and  if  op« 
position  be  made  to  it,  the  question  shall  be,  “ Shall  this  bill  be  re- 
jected ?”  If  no  opposition  be  made,  or  if  the  question  to  reject 
be  negatived,  the  bill  shall  go  to  its  second  reading  without  a 
question. 

11 8.  Upon  tlue  second  reading  of  a bill,  the  Speaker  shall  state  it 
as  ready  for  commitment  or  engrossment;  and  if  committed,  then  a 
question  shall  be,  whether  to  a select  or  standing  committee,  or  to  a 

- Committee  of  the  Whole  House ; if  to  a Committee  of  the  Whole 
House,  the  house  shall  determine  on  what  day ; if  no  motion  be 
made  to  commit,  the  question  shall  be  stated  on  its  engrossment ; and 
if  it  be  not  ordered  to  be  engrossed  on  the  day  of  its  being  reported, 
it  shall  be  placed  on  the  general  file  on  the  Speaker’s  table,  to  be  taken 
up  in  order.  But  if  the  bill  be  ordered  to  be  engrossed,  the  house 
shall  appoint  the  day  when  it  shall  be  read  the  third  time. 

119.  General  appropriation  bills  shall  be  in  order  in  preference  to 
any  other  bill  of  a public  nature  unless  otherwise  ordered  by  a ma- 
jority of  the  house. 

And  the  house  may,  at  any  time,  by  a vote  of  the  majority  of  the 
members  present,  make  any  of  the  general  appropriation  bills  a spe- 
cial order. 

120.  Ho  appropriation  shall  be  reported  in  such  general  appropri- 
ation bills,  or  be  in  order  as  an  amendment  thereto,  for  any  expendi- 
ture not  previously  authorized  by  law,  unless  in  continuation  of  ap- 
propriations for  such  public  works  and  objects  as  are  already  in 
progress,  and  for  the  contingencies  for  carrying  on  the  several  de- 
partments of  the  government. 

121.  Upon  the  engrossment  of  any  bill  making  appropriations  of 
money  for  works  of  internal  improvement  of  any  kind  or  description, 
it  shall  be  in  the  power  of  any  member  to  call  for  a division  of  the 
question,  so  as  to  to  take  a separate  vote  of  the  house  upon  each  item 
of  improvement  or  appropriation  contained  in  said  bill,  or  upon  such 
items  separately,  and  others  collectively,  as  the  members  making  the 
call  may  specify  ; and  if  one-fifth  of  the  members  present  second 
said  call,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Speaker  to  make  such  divisions 
of  the  question,  and  put  them  to  vote  accordingly. 

122.  The  bills  from  the  Court  of  Claims  shall,  on  being  laid  before 
the  house,  be  read  a first  and  second  time,  committed  to  a Committee 
of  the  Whole  House,  and,  together  with  the  accompanying  reports, 
printed. 

123.  A motion  to  strike  out  the  enacting  words  of  a bill  shall  have 
precedence  of  a motion  to  amend  ; and,  if  carried,  shall  be  consid- 
ered equivalent  to  its  rejection.  Whenever  a bill  is  reported  from  a 
Committee  of  the  Whoie,  with  a recommendation  to  strike  out  the 
enacting  words,  and  such  recommendation  is  disagreed  to  by  the 
house,  the  bill  shall  stand  recommitted  to  the  said  committee  without 
further  action  by  the  house. 

124.  After  commitment  and  report  thereof  to  the  house,  or  at  any 
time  before  its  passage,  a bill  may  be  recommitted  ; and  should  such 


RULES  OF  THE  HOUSE. 


429 


recommitment  take  place  after  its  engrossment,  and  an  amendment 
be  reported  and  agreed  to  by  the  house,  the  question  shall  be  again 
put  on  the  engrossment  of  the  bill. 

125.  All  bills  ordered  to  be  engrossed  shall  be  executed  in  a fair 
round  hand. 

126.  No  amendment  by  way  of  rider  shall  be  received  to  any  bill 
on  its  third  reading. 

127.  When  a bill  shall  pass,  it  shall  be  certified  by  the  clerk,  noting 
the  day  of  its  passage  at  the  foot  thereof. 

LOCAL  OR  PRIVATE  BUSINESS. 

128.  Friday  and  Saturday  of  every  week  shall  be  set  apart  for  the 
consideration  of  private  bills  and  private  business,  in  preference  to 
any  other,  unless  otherwise  determined  by  a majority  of  the  house. 

129.  On.  the  first  and  fourth  Friday  and  Saturday  of  each  month 
the  calendar  of  private  bills  shall  be  called  over,  (the  chairman  of 
the  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  commencing  the  call  where  he 
left  off  the  previous  day,)  and  the  bills  to  the  passage  of  which  no 
objection  shall  then  be  made  shall  be  first  considered  and  disposed  of. 
But  when  a bill  is  again  reached,  after  having  been  once  objected  to, 
the  committee  shall  consider  and  dispose  of  the  same,  unless  it  shall 
again  be  objected  to  by  at  least  five  members 

OF  BILLS  ON  LEAVE  AND  RESOLUTIONS. 

130.  All  the  States  and  Territories  shall  be  called  for  bills  on  leave 
and  resolutions  on  each  alternate  Monday  during  each  session  of 
Congress;  and,  if  necessary  to  secure  the  object  on  said  days,  all 
resolutions  which  shall  give  rise  to  debate  shall  lie  over  for  discus- 
sion, under  the  rules  of  the  House  already  established ; and  the 
whole  of  said  days  shall  be  appropriated  to  bills  on  leave  and  resolu- 
tions, until  all  the  States  and  Territories  are  called  through.  And 
the  Speaker  shall  first  call  the  States  and  Territories  for  bills 
on  leave ; and  all  bills  so  introduced  during  the  first  hour  after  the 
journal  is  read  shall  be  referred,  without  debate,  to  their  appropriate 
committees ; provided  however,  that  a bill  so  introduced  and  re- 
ferred shall  not  be  brought  back  into  the  house  upon  a motion  to  re- 
consider. 

OF  PETITIONS  AND  MEMORIALS. 

131.  Members  having  petitions  and  memorials  to  present,  may 
hand  them  to  the  clerk,  indorsing  the  same  with  their  names,  and 
the  reference  or  disposition  to  be  made  thereof ; and  such  petitions 
and  memorials  shall  be  entered  on  the  journal,  subject  to  the  control 
and  direction  of  the  Speaker ; and  if  any  petition  or  memorial  be  so 
handed  in,  which,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Speaker,  is  excluded  by 
the  rules,  the  same  shall  be  returned  to  the  member  from  whom  it 
was  received. 


430 


OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


OF  THE  PREVIOUS  QUESTION. 

132.  The  previous  question  shall  be  in  this  form  : 11  Shall  the  main 
question  be  now  put?”  It  shall  only  be  admitted  when  demanded 
by  a majority  of  the  members  present ; and  its  effects  shall  be  to  put 
an  end  to  all  debate,  and  to  bring  the  house  to  a direct  vote  upon  a 
motion  to  commit,  if  such  motion  shall  have  been  made  ; and  if  this 
motion  does  not  prevail,  then  upon  amendments  reported  by  a com- 
mittee, if  any  ; then  upon  pending  amendments,  and  then  upon  the 
main  question.  But  its  only  effect,  if  a motion  to  postpone  is  pend- 
ing, shall  be  to  bring  the  house  to  a vote  upon  such  motion.  When- 
ever the  house  shall  refuse  to  order  the  main  question,  the  considera- 
tion of  the  subject  shall  be  resumed  as  though  no  motion  for  the 
previous  question  had  been  made.  The  house  may  also,  at  any  time, 
on  motion  seconded  by  a majority  of  the  members  present,  close  all 
debate  upon  a pending  amendment,  or  an  amendment  thereto,  and 
cause  the  question  to  be  put  thereon  ; and  this  shall  not  preclude  any 
further  amendment  or  debate  upon  the  bill.  A call  of  the  house 
shall  not  be  in  order  after  the  previous  question  is  seconded,  unless  it 
shall  appear,  upon  an  actual  count  by  the  Speaker,  that  no  quorum  is 
present. 

133.  On  a previous  question  there  shall  be  no  debate.  All  inciden- 
tal questions  of  order  arising  after  a motion  is  made  for  the  previous 
question  and  pending  such  motion,  shall  be  decided,  whether  on  ap- 
peal or  otherwise,  without  debate. 

OF  ADMISSION  ON  THE  FLOOR. 

134.  No  person  except  members  of  the  Senate,  their  secretary, 
heads  of  departments,  the  President’s  private  secretary,  foreign  min- 
isters, the  Governor  for  the  time  being  of  any  State,  Senators  and 
Representatives  elect,  and  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States  and  of  the  Court  of  Claims,  shall  be  admitted  within  the  hall 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,  or  any  of  the  rooms  upon  the 
same  floor  or  leading  into  the  same. 

OF  REPORTERS. 

135.  Stenographers  and  reporters,  other  than  the  official  reporters 
of  the  house,  wishing  to  take  down  the  debates,  may  be  admitted  by 
the  Speaker  to  the  reporters’  gallery  over  the  Speaker’s  chair,  but 
not  on  the  floor  of  the  house  ; but  no  person  shall  be  allowed  the  priv- 
ilege of  said  gallery  under  the  character  of  stenographer  or  reporter 
without  a written  permission  of  the  Speaker,  specifying  the  part  of 
said  gallery  assigned  to  him  ; nor  shall  said  stenographer  or  reporter 
be  admitted  to  said  gallery  unless  he  shall  state  in  writing  for  what 
paper  or  papers  he  is  employed  to  report  ; nor  shall  he  be  so  admit- 
ted, or,  if  admitted,  be  suffered  to  retain  his  seat,  if  he  shall  be  or 
become  an  agent  to  prosecute  any  claim  pending  before  Congress  ; 
and  the  Speaker  shall  give  his  written  permissiom  with  this  con- 
dition. 


RULES  OF  THE  HOUSE. 


431 


UNFINISHED  BUSINESS  OF  THE  SESSION. 

±36.  After  six  days  from  the  commencement  of  a second  or  subse- 
quent session  of  any  Congress,  all  bills,  resolutions,  and  reports 
which  originated  in  the  house,  and  at  the  close  of  the  next  preceding 
session  remained  undetermined,  shall  be  resumed  and  acted  on  in 
the  same  manner  as  if  an  adjournment  had  not  taken  place.  And 
all  business  before  committees  of  the  house  at  the  end  of  one  session 
shall  be  resumed  at  the  commencement  of  the  next  session  of  the 
same  Congress  as  if  no  adjournment  had  taken  place. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

137.  Whenever  confidential  communications  are  received  from  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  the  house  shall  be  cleared  of  all  per- 
sons, except  the  members,  clerk,  sergeant-at-arms,  and  doorkeeper, 
and  so  continue  during  the  reading  of  such  communications,  and 
(unless  otherwise  directed  by  the  house)  during  all  debates  and  pro- 
ceedings to  be  had  thereon.  And  when  the  Speaker,  or  any  other 
member,  shall  inform  the  house  that  he  has  communications  to  make 
which  he  conceives  ought  to  be  kept  secret,  the  house  shall,  in  like 
manner,  be  cleared  till  the  communication  be  made  ; the  house  shall 
then  determine  whether  the  matter  communicated  requires  secrecy 
or  not,  and  take  order  accordingly 

138.  The  rule  for  paying  witnesses  summoned  to  appear  before  this 
house,  or  either  of  its  committees,  shall  be  as  follows  : for  each  day 
a witness  shall  attend,  the  sum  of  two  dollars  ; for  each  mile  he  shall 
travel  in  coming  to  or  going  from  the  place  of  examination,  the  sum 
of  ten  cents  each  way;  but  nothing  shall  be  paid  for  traveling  home 
when  the  witness  has  been  summoned  at  the  place  of  trial. 

139.  Maps  accompanying  documents  shall  not  be  printed,  under 
the  general  order  to  print,  without  the  special  direction  of  the  house. 

140.  No  extra  compensation  shall  be  allowed  to  any  officer  or  mes- 
senger, page,  laborer,  or  other  person  in  the  service  of  the  house,  or 
engaged  in  or  about  the  public  grounds  or  buildings  ; and  no  person 
shall  be  an  officer  of  the  house,  or  continue  in  its  employment,  who 
shall  be  an  agent  for  the  prosecution  of  any  claim  against  the  gov- 
ernment, or  be  interested  in  such  claim  otherwise  than  an  original 
claimant ; and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  of  Accounts  to 
inquire  into  and  report  to  the  house  any  violation  of  this  rule. 

141.  When  the  reading  of  a paper  is  called  for,  and  the  same  is 
objected  to  by  any  member,  it  shall  be  determined  by  a vote  of  the 
house. 

142.  When  a question  is  postponed  indefinitely,  the  same  shall  not 
be  acted  upon  again  during  the  session. 

143.  Every  order,  resolution,  or  vote,  to  which  the  concurrence  of 
the  Senate  shall  be  necessary,  shall  be  read  to  the  house,  and  laid  on 
the  table,  on  a day  preceding  that  in  which  the  same  shall  be  moved, 
unless  the  house  shall  otherwise  expressly  allow. 

144.  The  rules  of  parliamentary  practice,  comprised  in  Jefferson  ;s 
28 


432 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Manual,  shall  govern  the  house  in  all  cases  to  which  they  are  appli- 
cable, and  in  which  they  are  not  inconsistent  with  the  standing  rule 
and  orders  of  the  house,  and  joint  rules  of  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives. 

145.  Ho  standing  rule  or  order  of  the  house  shall  be  rescinded  or 
changed  without  one  day’s  notice  being  given  of  the  motion  therefor  ; 
nor  shall  any  rule  be  suspended,  except  by  a vote  of  at  least  two- 
thirds  of  the  members  present ; nor  shall  the  order  of  business,  as 
established  by  the  rules,  be  postponed  or  changed,  except  by  a vote 
of  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  members  present ; nor  shall  the  Speaker 
entertain  a motion  to  suspend  the  rules,  except  during  the  last  ten 
days  of  the  session,  and  on  Monday  of  every  week  at  the  expiration 
of  an  hour  after  the  journal  is  read,  unless  the  call  of  the  States  and 
Territories  for  bills  on  leave  and  resolutions  has  been  earlier  conclu- 
ded, when  the  Speaker  may  entertain  a motion  to  suspend  the 
rules. 

146.  All  election  of  officers  of  the  house,  including  the  Speaker, 
shall  be  conducted  in  accordance  with  these  rules,  so  far  as  the  same 
are  applicable  ; and  pending  the  election  of  a Speaker,  the  clerk  shall 
preserve  order  and  decorum,  and  shall  decide  all  questions  of  order 
that  may  arise,  subject  to  appeal  to  the  house. 

147.  These  rules  shall  be  the  rules  ot  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  present  and  succeeding  Congresses  unless  otherwise 
ordered. 

148.  An  additional  standing  committee  shall  be  appointed  at  the 
commencement  of  each  Congress,  whose  duties  shall  continue  until 
the  first  session  of  the  ensuing  Congress,  to  consist  of  five  members, 
to  be  entitled  a u Committee  on  a Uniform  System  of  Coinage, 
Weights,  and  Measures  and  to  this  committee  shall  be  referred  all 
bills,  resolutions,  and  communications  to  the  house  upon  that 
subject. 

149.  The  names  of  members  not  voting  on  any  call  of  the  ayes  and 
Does  shall  be  recorded  in  the  journal  immediately  after  those  voting 
in  the  affirmative  and  negative,  and  the  same  record  shall  be  made 
in  the  Congressional  Globe. 

150.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  the  Pacific  Railroad 
to  take  into  consideration  all  such  petitions  and  matters  or  things  rel- 
ative to  railroads  or  telegraph  lines  between  the  Mississippi  valley 
and  the  Pacific  coast,  as  shall  be  presented  or  shall  come  in  question, 
and  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house,  and  to  report  their  opinion 
thereon,  together  with  such  propositions  relative  thereto  as  to  them 
shall  seem  expedient. 

151.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means  to 
take  into  consideration  all  reports  of  the  Treasury  Department,  and 
such  other  propositions  relative  to  raising  revenue  and  providing  ways 
and  means  for  the  support  of  the  government  as  shall  be  presented  or 
shall  come  in  question,  and  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house,  and  to 
report  their  opinion  thereon  by  bill  or  otherwise,  as  to  them  shall 


RULES  OF  THE  HOUSE.  433 

seem  expedient ; and  said  committee  shall  have  leave  to  report  for 
commitment  at  any  time. 

152.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Banking  and  Bank 
Currency  to  take  into  consideration  all  propositions  relative  to  bank- 
ing and  the  currency  as  shall  be  presented  or  shall  come  in  question, 
and  be  referred  to  them  by  the  house,  and  to  report  thereon  by  bill 
or  otherwise. 


434 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


UNITED  STATES  CHRONOLOGY. 


[In  the  following  Chronological  Table,  we  have  inserted  only  such 
events  and  occurrences  as  relate  to  the  government,  to  our  wars,  and 
to  the  distinguished  men  who  have  been  conspicuous  either  as  states- 
men or  commanders  in  our  army  or  navy.  To  the  events  we  have 
added  numerous  notes  and  comments,  which  make  the  following 
pages  an  epitome  of  the  history  of  our  country.] 

1775. 

April  19 — Battle  of  Lexington,  (10  m.  NT.  W,  of  Boston,)  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Revolutionary  war,  when  the  first  blood  in  that 
contest  was  spilt. 

May  10 — The  Second  Continental  Congress  met  at  Philadelphia,  the 
First  having  met  Sept.  5th,  the  year  before,  at  the  same 
place. 

il  10 — Colonels  Allen  and  Arnold  surprised  and  took  Ticonderoga, 
New  York,  which  surrendered  without  the  loss  of  a man. 
The  same  day  they  took  Crown  Point  (on  the  W.  shore  of 
Lake  Champlain.) 

11  10 — Peyton  Randolph,  of  Virginia,  chosen  President  of  the 
Continental  Congress. 

u 15 — Congress  resolved  to  issue  paper  money. 

“ 20 — Articles  of  Union  and  Confederation  agreed  on  by  the 
thirteen  colonies. 

“ 24 — John  Hancock  chosen  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress. 

u 25 — The  British  Generals  Howe,  Clinton  and  Burgoyne  arrive 
at  Boston. 

June  15 — Congress  unanimously  elects  George  Washington  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  American  army. 

“ 17 — Battle  of  Bunker  Hill  (near  Boston).  British  victorious, 
but  not  till  twice  repulsed  with  great  slaughter.  British 
forces,  3,000 ; American,  1,500;  Br.  killed  and  wounded 
1,000;  Am.  about  400.  Gen.  Warren  fell  here.  The  English 
burnt  Charlestown,  near  Boston,  the  same  day. 

11  22 — Congress  resolved  to  issue  $2,000,000  in  Bills  of  Credit. 
August — Col.  Arnold  left  Cambridge,  Mass.,  with  1,000  men  to  in- 
vade Canada. 

Oct.  18 — Falmouth,  in  Mass.,  burnt  by  the  British. 

“ 22 — Peyton  Randolph,  the  first  President  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  died. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  435 

Nov.  13 — Montreal  surrendered  to  the  Americans  under  Gen.  Mont- 
gomery ; St.  John’s  had  surrendered  on  the  3d. 

Pec.  8 — Battle  at  Norfolk,  Ya.  Br.  under  Lord  Dunmore,  defeated. 

“ 13 — Congress  resolved  to  fit  out  a navy  of  13  ships. 

u 21 — The  English  Parliament  pass  an  act  confiscating  all  Amer- 
ican vessels  found  floating  on  the  water,  and  for  impressing 
their  crews  into  the  British  navy,  without  distinction  of 
persons. 

« 31 — Gen.  Montgomery  killed  in  an  attempt,  with  Col.  Arnold, 
to  capture  Quebec,  and  after  a hard  battle  the  Americans 
were  compelled  to  surrender  prisoners  of  war. 

1776. 

Jan.  1 — Lord  Dunmore,  the  Br.  Governor  of  Virginia,  burnt  Nor- 
folk and  fled. 

Mar.  3 — The  Americans,  under  Col.  Bull,  burn  seven  English  ships, 
laden  for  Eng. , near  Savannah,  Ga. 

11  10 — Boston  plundered  by  British  soldiers. 

u 17 — The  Br.  army  evacuate  Boston,  and  General  Washington 
takes  possession  of  it. 

“ 18 — Sir  Archibald  Campbell,  not  knowing  that  the  English  had 
left  Boston,  entered  the  harbor  with  1,700  men,  all  of  whom 
were  made  prisoners  of  war  by  Washington. 

“ 18 — Congress  resolved  to  call  in  and  burn  all  the  Continental 
money  issued  prior  to  this  date,  and  then  issue  $10,000,000 
of  new  money. 

May  3 — Sir  Peter  Parker,  with  a Br.  squadron  of  20  sail,  arrived  at 
Cape  Fear,  with  Lord  Cornwallis  on  board. 

u 5 — Congress  declared  the  authority  of  Great  Britain  abolished  in 
the  thirteen  colonies. 

u 25 — Congress  resolved  to  engage  the  Indians  against  the 
British. 

J une  8 — The  Americans  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  capture 
some  of  the  British  forces  at  Trois  Riveres,  in  Canada,  but 
burnt  St.  Ann’s  on  the  St.  Lawrence  river. 

“ 11 — Congress  appoint  Thos.  Jeflerson,  Jno.  Adams,  Benj. 
Franklin  and  Robt.  R.  Livingston  a committee  to  prepare  a 
Declaration  of  Independence. 

u 15 — The  British,  under  Sir  H.  Clinton,  attacked  Sullivan’s 
Island,  in  Charleston  harbor,  and 

“ 28 — They  bombarded  Fort  Moultrie,  commanded  by  Col.  Moul- 
trie, but  were  driven  off. 

July  4 — Declaration  of  Independence  of  the  United  States  de- 
clared and  published  at  Philadelphia. 

July  12 — Lord  Howe  arrived  from  England  with  a fleet  and  30,000 
troops,  principally  Hessians. 

u 12 — The  Algerines  take  94  American  prisoners  from  American 
ships. 


436  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Aug.  22 — Br.  troops  to  the  number  of  24,000,  under  Sir  Wm.  Howe, 
land  on  Long  Island,  IS".  Y. 

“ 27 — Battle  of  Flatbush,  on  Long  Island,  near  Brooklyn,  when 
the  Americans  were  surprised  by  the  British  and  Hessians, 
and  defeated  with  a loss  of  500  killed  and  1,100  taken  pris- 
oners. 

Sept.  15 — The  English  take  possession  of  New  York. 

Oct.  28 — Battle  of  White  Plains,  25  miles  from  New  York. 

Nov.  1 — Henry  Laurens,  of  South  Carolina,  chosen  President  of  the 
Continental  Congress. 

“ 16 — Port  Washington,  on  New  York  Island,  taken  by  the 
British,  but  with  a loss  of  nearly  1,000  men. 

Dec.  6 — The  British  take  Rhode  Island. 

“ 25 — Washington  took  1,000  Hessians  near  Trenton,  N.  J. 

Dec.  26 — Battle  of  Trenton  N.  J. 

In  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  Congress  appointed  Benj. 
Franklin,  Silas  Deane,  and  Arthur  Lee,  Commissioners  to 
France,  to  procure  her  aid. 

1777. 

Jan.  4 — Battle  of  Princeton,  N.  J.  Loss  about  400  on  each  side,  but 
Am.  Gen.  Mercer  was  killed. 

Eeb.  6 — England  granted  Letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisal  against 
American  ships. 

April  26 — Danbury,  Conn.,  burned  by  the  British  under  General 
Tryon. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year  Lafayette  arrived  in  America 
from  France,  to  aid  us  in  our  war  with  England. 

April John  Morton,  of  Pennsylvania,  and 

May  27 — Button  Gwinnet,  of  Georgia,  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  died. 

May  24 — Col.  Meigs  attacked  the  British  shipping  at  Sag  Harbor,  N. 
Y. , and  destroyed  12  of  their  vessels. 

June  22 — The  British  evacuate  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

July  7 — After  a fight,  the  U.  S.  frigate  Hancock  was  captured  by 
three  British  ships. 

“ 7 — The  Americans  under  Col.  Livingston,  were  defeated  by 

the  Br.  forces  in  a battle  at  Fort  Ann,  N.  Y. 

“ 31 — The  Marquis  Lafayette,  by  a vote  of  Congress,  was  made  a 
Major  General  at  the  age  of  21. 

Aug.  3 — Fort  Schuyler,  at  the  head  of  the  Mohawk  river,  invested  by 
the  Br.  Gen.  Ganesvoort,  however,  held  it. 

“ 6 — Gen.  Herkimer  was  ambushed  by  the  British  and  Indians  at 
Oriskany,  and  was  defeated  with  a loss  of  400  men. 

u 16 — Battle  of  Bennington,  Yt.  Americans,  under  Col.  Stark, 
victorious. 

11  19 — Nichols  Herkimer,  a brave  officer  who  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Oriskany,  died. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


437 


Aug.  22 — The  siege  of  Fort  Stanwix  (on  the  Mohawk  river)  was 
raised  by  the  British  under  St.  Leger,  who  retreated  with 
loss  of  artillery,  tents  and  stores. 

Sept.  11 — Battle  of  Brandywine,  Del.  Americans,  under  General 
Washington,  defeated. 

“ 18 — The  Continental  Congress,  now  in  session  at  Philadelphia, 
adjourned  to  Lancaster  on  account  of  the  approach  of  the 
British. 

11  19 — Battle  of  Stillwater,  N.  Y.  Both  parties  claim  the  victory. 
Am,.,  under  Gen.  Gates;  Br.,  Gen.  Burgoyne. 

11  26 — The  English  took  possession  of  Philadelphia  without  op- 
position. 

11  28 — 21  ? — Gen.  Wayne,  with  1,500  men  surprised  at  Paoli,  20 
miles  from  Phila.,  and  800  of  his  men  killed. 

Oct.  4 — Battle  of  Germantown,  near  Philadelphia.  Am.,  under  Gen. 
Washington,  defeated  by  the  Br.  under  Gen  Howe. 

11  7 — Second  battle  of  Stillwater;  Am.  victorious. 

“ 13 — Kingston,  N.  Y.,  burnt  by  the  British. 

“ 17 — Gen.  Burgoyne  surrendered  his  army  to  Gen.  Gates,  at 
Saratoga. 

“ 22 — Battle  of  Red  Bank,  NT.  J.  The  Hessians,  under  Count  Do- 
nop,  defeated  with  a loss  of  500  killed. 

Nov.  15 — Articles  of  Confederation  adopted  by  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, which  was  the  only  Constitution  during  the  war. 

Dec.  11 — Washington  and  his  army  go  into  winter  quarters  at  Valley 
Forge,  20  miles  from  Philadelphia. 

11  21 — At  this  time  great  numbers  of  Am.  officers  and  men  were 
prisoners  of  war  in  New  York,  where  they  were  confined 
in  loathsome  jails  and  sugar  houses,  and  many  of  them 
starved  to  death. 

1778. 

Mar.  4 — The  American  frigate  Alfred,  20  guns,  captured  by  the  Brit- 
ish ships  Ariadne  and  Ceres. 

u 11 — Bills  passed  the  English  Parliament,  in  which  every- 
thing the  Colonies  had  asked  was  granted,  and  Commission- 
ers were  sent  to  America  to  offer  terms  of  peace  ; but  Con- 
gress now  rejected  them  all.  Soon  after  this,  France  ac^ 
knowledged  the  Independence  of  the  United  States,  and 
entered  into  a treaty  of  alliance  and  commerce  with  them, 
which  Congress  ratified. 

“ 21 — The  American  ministers,  Franklin,  Deane  and  Lee  pub- 
licly received  at  the  French  Court. 

April  18 — A French  fleet,  commanded  *by  Count  D’Estiang,  sent  to 
the  United  States  to  aid  them  against  the  English. 

June  12 — Philip  Livingston,  of  N.  Y.,  a signer  of  the  Dec.  of  Inde- 
pendence, died. 

“ 18 — The  English  evacuated  Philadelphia. 


438  OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

June  28 — Battle  of  Monmouth,  N.  J.  Washington  commanding  the 
American,  and  Lord  Cornwallis  the  British  forces.  Amer- 
icans victorious. 

July  4-5 — Nearly  400  American  troops,  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Valley  of  Wyoming,  were  msssacred  by 
the  Tories  and  Indians — known  to  this  day  as  the  “ Wyom- 
ing Massacre.  ” 

Sept.  28 — A regt.  of  American  cavalry  at  Tappan,  N.  Y.,  surprised 
by  the  English,  who  rushed  upon  them  with  the  bayonet, 
and  killed,  wounded  or  captured  67  of  them. 

Dec.  29 — Savannah,  Geo.,  taken  by  the  English — 100  Americans 
killed,  and  453  taken  prisoners. 

1779. 

May  2 — Verplank’s  Point,  on  the  Hudson  river,  with  a garrison  of 
70  men,  surrendered  to  the  British,  under  Gen.  Clinton. 

u 10 — Norfolk  and  Portsmouth,  Va.,  taken  by  the  British,  who 
burnt  many  of  the  houses  and  vessels. 

“ Stony  Point,  on  the  Hudson,  abandoned  by  the  Americans,  and 
then  taken  by  the  English,  under  Gen.  Clinton. 

June  6 — Patrick  Henry,  a distinguished  orator  and  statesman,  of  Va., 
died,  aged  63. 

July  5-7 — N.  Haven,  Conn.,  plundered,  and  Fairfield,  E.  Haven  and 
Norwalk,  burnt  by  the  British. 

u 15 — Gen.  Wayne  captured  Stony  Point  from  the  English,  who 
lost  600  men  ; the  Americans  100. 

“ 19 — Battle  of  Paulus  Hook,  N.  J.  ; when  the  Americans, 
under  Gen.  Lee,  captured  the  English  troops  at  that  place. 

Aug.  22 — Gen.  Williamson  invaded  the  Indian  country,  and  burnt 
50,000  bushels  of  corn. 

Aug.  29 — u Battle  of  the  Chemung, 19  fought  at  Elmira,  N.  Y. 
Americans,  under  Gen.  Sullivan,  victorious. 

Sept.  23 — Great  battle  on  the  coast  of  Scotland,  between  a flotilla 
of  American  and  French  vessels,  commanded  by  Paul 
Jones,  and  two  Br.  frigates.  One  Br.  and  one  Am.  ship 
sunk. 

Oct.  9* — The  Americans  made  an  assault  on  Savannah,  Geo.,  to  re- 
take it  from  the  English,  but  were  repulsed.  Count  Pulaski 
and  nearly  1,000  men  were  killed. 

Joseph  Hews,  of  North  Carolina,  Thomas  Lynch,  of  South 
Carolina,  and  George  Eoss,  of  Pa.,  all  signers  of  the  Dec. 
of  Independence,  died  this  year. 

1780. 

May  6 — Fort  Moultry,  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  surrendered  to  the  En- 
glish, who  bombarded  the  city  at  the  same  time. 

11  12 — Charleston  also  surrendered.  Gen.  Lincoln  and  the  troops 
under  his  command  become  prisoners  of  war,  to  the  number 
of  2,500,  with  400  cannon. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  439 

June  13 — Maj.  Gen.  Gate3  ordered  by  Congress  to  take  command  of 
the  Southern  department. 

“ 23 — Battle  of  Springfield,  N.  J.  The  British  burnt  the  town. 

July  10 — A French  fleet,  with  Count  Rochambeau  and  6,000  French 
soldiers  on  board,  arrived  at  Rhode  Island,  for  the  purpose 
of  assisting  the  Americans  against  England. 

Aug.  6 — Battle  at  Hanging  Rock ; 600  Americans,  under  Sumpter, 
almost  entirely  destroyed. 

“ 16 — Battle  at  Sanders'  Creek,  near  Camden,  S.  C.  Lord  Corn- 
wallis commanding  the  English,  and  General  Gates  the 
Americans,  who  were  defeated,  and  Baron  DeKalb  was 
mortally  wounded. 

Sept.  — The  traitor  Benedict  Arnold  agrees  to  surrender  West 

Point,  N.  Y.,  to  the  English;  Major  Andre,  the  British  offi- 
cer who  negotiated  with  Arnold,  was  soon  after  captured 
and  hung,  and  the  plot  failed. 

John  Hart,  of  N.  J.,  a signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, died  this  year. 

“ 21 — Major  Andre,  the  British  spy,  landed  in  the  night  from 
the  British  ship  Vulture,  and  proceeded  to  West  Point  to 
confer  with  Arnold  for  the  surrender  of  that  post. 

11  23 — Major  Andre  taken  at  Tarry  town,  and  hung  Oct.  2d. 

Oct.  7 — Battle  of  King's  Mountain,  S.  C.  300  British  killed  and 
wounded,  800  prisoners,  and  1,500  stand  of  arms  taken. 

“ 25 — Gen.  Marion,  of  S.  C.,  attacked  200  British  and  Tories, 
under  Col.  Tyne,  killed  and  took  one-half  of  them. 

1781. 

Jan.  17 — Battle  of  Cowpens,  S.  C. ; Col.  Morgan  commanding  the 
American,  and  Col.  Tarleton  the  English  forces.  Ameri- 
cans victorious. 

Feb.  23— Geo.  Taylor,  of  Pa.,  and  Feb.  28th,  Richard  Stockton,  of 
N.  J.,  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  died. 

March  15 — Battle  at  Guilford  Court  House,  N.  C.  ; Gen.  Green  com- 
manding the  American,  and  Lord  Cornwallis  the  English 
forces  ; the  latter  victorious.  Loss  of  both  about  equal. 

April  25 — Battle  of  Camden,  S.  C. ; Gen.  Green  commanding  the 
American,  and  Lord  Rawdon  the  English  forces.  The  latter 
victorious. 

May  21 — The  British  fort  Dreadnought  succumbed  to  the  Americans 
under  General  Lee. 

“ 28 — The  U.  S.  frigate  Alliance,  32  guns,  Capt.  Barry,  captured 
the  British  sloops  Atalanta,  16  guns  and  Trespasser,  14  guns, 

June  5 — Fort  Cornwallis,  at  Augusta,  Geo.  surrendered  to  the  Ameri- 
cans, with  300  men. 

“ 20 — Lord  Cornwallis  evacuated  Richmond,  Va.,  and 

July  4 — Williamsburgh,  Va. 


440  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Sept.  6 — Fort  Griswold  taken  by  the  English,  under  the  traitor  Ar- 
nold, and  the  garrison  put  to  the  sword.  Col.  Ledyard, 
who  commanded  the  fort,  was  run  through  with  his  own 
sword,  after  he  had  surrendered.  The  same  day,  New  Lon- 
don, Conn.,  was  burnt  by  the  same  infamous  wretch. 

((  8 — Battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,  S.  C.  ; General  Green  command- 
ing the  American,  and  Col.  Stewart  the  English  forces. 

Oct.  19 — Battle  of  Yorktown,  Va.,  when  after  several  days' fighting, 
Lord  Cornwallis  with  7000  troops  surrendered  to  Gen.  Wash- 
ington. 

u 25 — Colonel  Willett,  of  N.  Y.,  defeated  600  English  troops, 
under  Major  Boss. 

Dec.  31 — Henry  Laurens,  U.  S.  Minister  to  France,  was  liberated 
from  prison,  in  London,  and  exchanged  for  the  British  Gen. 
Burgoyne. 

1782. 

March  4 — Kesolutions  passed  the  English  House  of  Commons  in  favor 
of  peace  between  England  and  her  American  colonies,  in  con- 
sequence of  which  very  few  military  operations  were  car- 
ried on  this  year. 

April  19 — The  independence  of  the  United  States  acknowledged  by 
Holland. 

July  11 — The  British  evacuate  Savannah,  Geo.,  and  Gen.  Wayne 
took  possession  of  it,  who  defeated  a body  of  British  troops 
near  that  city  about  the  same  time. 

Sept.  30— Yorktown,  Va.,  invested  by  the  American  and  French  ar- 
mies, under  Washington  and  Rochambeau. 

Dec.  16 — The  British  burnt  Fort  Arbuthnot,  and  a new  fort  on  Sul- 
livan’s Island,  S.  C. 

“ 20 — The  U.  S.  frigate  Charleston,  of  40  guns,  was  (after  18 
hours’  chase),  captured  by  the  British  ships  Quebec  and  Di- 
omede. The  first  American  74-gun  ship  was  built  this  year 
at  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

1783. 

Jan.  20 — Cessation  of  hostilities  agreed  upon  between  England  and 
the  United  States. 

Feb.  5 — Independence  of  the  U.  States  acknowledged  by  Sweden. 

“ 25 — Independence  of  the  United  States  acknowledged  by  Den- 
mark. 

March  24 — Independence  of  the  United  States  acknowledged  by 
Spain. 

July  — Independence  of  the  United  States  acknowledged  by  Russia. 

April  19 — Cessation  of  hostilities  between  England  and  the  United 
States  proclaimed  just  eight  years  from  the  day  on  which 
the  Revolutionary  war  commenced.  Estimated  loss  of  men 
in  this  war,  70,000. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  441 

June  18 — Washington  announces  to  the  Governors  of  the  thirteen 
Colonies  that  he  would  soon  resign  the  command  of  the 
army. 

July  21 — Three  hundred  of  the  Revolutionary  soldiers,  with  fixed 
bayonets,  surrounded  the  building  in  which  Congress  was  as- 
sembled, and  demanded  relief  from  their  sufferings. 

Sept.  3 — Treaty  of  peace  between  England  and  the  United  States 
* signed,  and  the  independence  of  the  United  States  acknowl- 
edged by  the  former. 

Oct.  18 — Proclamation  for  disbanding  the  U.  S.  army  issued. 

Nov.  25 — New  York  evacuated  by  the  English  troops,  and  in  Dec. 
they  evacuated  Charleston,  S.  C. 

Dec.  4 — Washington  took  leave  of  the  officers  of  the  American 
army  in  New  York. 

“ 24 — Washington  resigns  his  office  as  commander -in-chief  of 
the  army,  and  delivered  up  his  commission  to  Congress  at 
Annapolis,  and  while  it  was  in  session,  Caesar  Rodney,  of 
Delaware,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence, died  this  year, 

1784. 

Eeb.  — First  voyage  from  New  York  to  China. 

Oct.  22 — Treaty  between  the  United  States  and  the  six  nations  (of 
Indians)  concluded  at  Fort  Stanwix,  now  Rome,  N.  Y. 

1785. 

July  9 — Treaty  between  the  United  States  and  Prussia. 

“ 13 — Stephen  Hopkins,  of  Rhode  Island,  a signer  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  died. 

Nov.  28 — William  Whipple,  of  New  Hampshire,  a signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  died. 

1786. 

June  19 — Gen  Nathaniel  Green,  a distinguished  officer  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  died,  aged  46.  He  was  in  the  battles  of 
Trenton,  Princeton,  Germantown,  Monmouth,  and  Eutaw 
Springs,  which  closed  the  war  at  the  South. 

This  year  was  distinguished  by  a rebellion  which  broke  out 
in  the  State  of  Mass.,  also  in  New  Hampshire,  called 
Shay’s  rebellion,  on  account  of  the  heavy  taxes  which  those 
States  imposed  on  the  people,  to  sustain  their  credit. 

1787. 

Jan.  1 — Arthur  Middleton,  of  South  Carolina,  a signer  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  died. 

In  July  a large  extent  of  territory  north  of  the  Ohio  river 
was  formed  into  the  Northwestern  Territory. 


442  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Sept.  17 — The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  agreed  upon  in  con- 
vention at  Philadelphia. 

Qct.  6 — Thomas  Stone,  of  Maryland,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  died. 

1788. 

Previous  to,  and  during  this  year,  eleven  of  the  States  adopted  the 
United  States  Constitution. 

1789. 

Jan.  4— Thomas  Nelson,  of  Virginia,  a signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  died. 

Feb.  13 — Ethan  Allen,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  Revolutionary 
heroes,  died. 

April  30 — Washington  inaugurated  the  first  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  government  went  into  operation  under  the 
Constitution. 

July  4 — Congress  passed  the  first  act  imposing  duties  on  imported 

goods. 

< 27 — The  Department  and  Secretary  of  “ Foreign  Affairs,7 f 

created  by  act  of  Congress,  but  changed  to  Department  and 
Secretary  of  State,  in  the  following  Sept. 

Aug.  7 — The  Department  and  Secretary  of  War  created  by  act  of 
Congress. 

li  23 — Silas  Deane,  U.  S.  Minister  to  France  in  1776,  died  in  Eng- 
land in  extreme  poverty 

Sept.  2 — The  Department  and  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  created  "by 
act  of  Congress. 

Sept.  22 — The  Post-Office  Department  temporarily  established,  and 
the  office  of  Postmaster  General  created  by  a law  of  Con- 
gress. 

u 24 — The  act  for  the  establishment  of  the  Judicial  system  of  the 
U.  S.  passed.  By  this  act  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  the 
Circuit  and  District  Courts  were  created.  Also  the  offices 
of  the  U.  S.  district  attorneys  and  marshals. 

In  this  month,  Congress  passed  (two-thirds  of  both  houses 
concurring)  a resolution,  proposing  ten  amendments  to  the 
Constitution,  which  were  adopted  by  three-fourths  of  the 
States.  These  are  the  ten  first  amendments  to  that  instru- 
ment. 

1790. 

March  1 — Congress  passed  an  act  providing  for  taking  the  first  Cen- 
sus this  year. 

11  24 — First  naturalization  law  passed. 

April  15 — First  patent-right  law  passed. 

u 30 — Treason  and  piracy  were  defined  by  act  of  Congress,  and 
death  by  hanging  was  mado  the  penalty  in  both  cases. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


443 


May  29 — U.  S.  Constitution  adopted  by  Rhode  Island. 

“ 31 — First  act  passed  for  securing  copy-rights  for  the  benefit  of 
authors. 

Gen.  Israel  Putnam,  one  of  the  most  intrepid  officers  of  the 
Revolution,  died  this  month. 

July  16 — Seat  of  government,  which  was  at  this  time  at  New  York, 
was  by  act  of  Congress  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  it 
was  to  remain  till  A.  D.  1800,  when  it  was  to  be  permanently 
fixed  at  Washington. 

During  this  year,  Virginia  and  Maryland  ceded  the  District 
of  Columbia  to  the  United  States  as  a location  for  the  seat 
of  government. 

Benjamin  Franklin,  of  Pa.,  William  Hooper,  of  N.  C.,  and 
Francis  Hopkinson,  of  N.  J.,  all  signers  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  died  this  year. 

Tennessee  was  formed  into  a Territorial  government  this 


Feb.  25 — First  United  States  Bank  chartered  by  Congress,  with  a cap- 
ital not  to  exceed  $10,000,000 ; charter  to  continue  for 
twenty  years. 

March  4 — Vermont  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a State,  making  the 
fourteenth  State. 

Nov.  4 — General  St.  Clair  attacked  in  camp  by  Indians,  eighty  miles 
north  of  Cincinnatti,  O.,  and  lost  600  out  of  2,000  men.  (See 
further.) 

Dec.  20 — The  First  United  States  Bank  commenced  business  in 
Philadelphia. 

This  year,  by  act  of  Congress,  a tax  was  laid  on  distilled 
spirits.  This  was  the  first  attempt  to  raise  revenue  by  inter- 
nal taxes. 

Benj.  Harrison,  of  Va.,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  died  this  year. 

During  this  and  the  preceding  year,  the  country  was  invol- 
ved in  a bloody  war  with  the  Indians  north  of  the  Ohio  river 

1792. 

Feb.  16 — Bounty  to  fishing  vessels,  first  act  for,  passed. 

“ 20 — An  act  permanently  to  establish  post-offices  and  post- 
roads in  the  United  States. 

April  2 — The  act  for  establishing  the  U.  S.  Mint  at  Philadelphia, 
passed,  directing  what  pieces  of  coin  should  be  made. 

“ 14 — First  act  apportioning  the  Representatives  in  Congress 
among  the  several  States  passed ; this  was  based  on  the  first 
census,  taken  in  1790. 

May  8 — First  act  of  Congress,  providing  for  a uniform  militia  system 
throughout  the  United  States. 


444  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

June  1 — Kentucky  admitted  into  the  Union.  She  was  the  second 
admission,  making  the  fifteenth  State. 

Dec.  8 — Henry  Laurens,  of  South  Carolina,  first  President  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  died. 

In  the  autumn  of  this  year,  the  second  Presidential  election 
occurred,  wiien  Washington  was  unanimously  re-elected 
President,  and  John  Adams  Vice  President. 

1793. 

Early  in  this  year,  Mr.  Genet,  Minister  of  the  French  Republic  to 
the  United  States,  arrived.  But  his  conduct  was  so  mis- 
chievous that  President  Washington  requested  the  French 
government  to  recall  him,  which  was  done. 

Feb.  12 — First  fugitive  slave  law  passed. 

“ 18 — The  President’s  salary  fixed  by  act  of  Congress  at  $25,000 

per  year,  where  it  has  remained  ever  since. 

March  9 — It  was  enacted  by  Congress  that  every  male  citizen,  be- 
tween the  ages  of  - 18  and  45,  should  be  enrolled  in  the 
militia. 

July  23 — Roger  Sherman,  of  Conn.,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  died. 

Oct.  8 — John  Hancock,  of  Mass.,  the  first  man  who  signed  the  Dec- 
laration of  Independence,  died. 

Dec.  31 — Thomas  Jefferson  resigned  his  office  of  Secretary  of  State. 

1794. 

March  22 — The  law  passed  prohibiting  the  slave  trade,  which  made 
it  a crime  to  bring  slaves  into  or  take  them  out  of  the 
country. 

u 26 — Congress  laid  an  embargo  on  all  vessels  in  United  States 
ports  for  30  days,  which  was  extended  to  60  days. 

This  year  the  eleventh  amendment  of  the  Constitution  was 
recommended  by  resolution  of  Congress,  which  was  adopted 
by  the  States. 

June  4 — The  President  was  authorized  by  Congress  to  lay  embargoes 
on  all  vessels  in  any  of  the  ports  of  the  United  States,  and  to  re- 
voke the  same  whenever  he  deemed  it  necessary  for  the  in- 
terests of  the  country. 

u 19 — Richard  H.  Lee,  of  Ya. ; June  — Abraham  Clark,  of  N. 
J. ; and  Nov.  15,  John  Witherspoon,  of  N.  J.,  three  sign- 
ers of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  died. 

Aug.  19 — Battle  of  Maumee  in  Ohio  when  Gen.  Wayne,  with  a 
force  of  3,000  men,  met  and  routed  the  Indians,  and  laid 
their  country  waste. 

In  the  autumnof  this  year,  the  whisky  rebellion  broke  out 
in  Pa.  This  was  a resistance  principally  by  the  opponents 
of  the  administration  to  the  law  of  Congress  imposing  a tax 
on  the  manufacture  of  whisky. 

Nov.  28 — Baron  Steuben  died  at  Steubenville,  N.  Y.,  aged  61. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


445 


1795. 

Jan.  23 — Gen.  Sullivan,  a gallant  and  heroic  officer  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, died. 

Jan.  29 — Congress  passed  an  act  establishing  a uniform  rule  of 
naturalization,  which  was  more  stringent  than  a former 
law  on  the  same  subject. 

May  19 — Josiah  Bartlett,  of  N.  H.,  one  of  the  signers  of  theDeclara^ 
tion  of  Independence,  died. 

Nov.  28 — A peace  was  concluded  with  Algiers,  with  whom  a short 
naval  war  had  been  carried  on  by  the  United  States  this 


Jan.  1 — By  act  of  Congress,  Tennessee  was  admitted  as  a State,  mak- 
ing the  18th  State. 

“ 5 — Samuel  Huntington,  of  Conn.,  a signer  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  died. 

June  — Tennessee  admitted  as  a State. 

Sept.  — Washington  issued  his  farewell  address  to  the  people  of  the 
U.  S.,  having  determined  to  retire  from  public  life  at  the 
end  of  his  second  Presidential  term  of  office. 

In  the  autumn  of  this  year,  the  third  Presidential  election 
took  place,  which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  John  Adams. 

Dec.  14 — Gen  Wayne,  commander-in-chief  of  the  United  States 
forces,  died  at  Presque  Isle,  aged  51. 

1797. 

March  4 — John  Adams  inaugurated  the  second  President. 

June  14 — Congress  enacted  that  no  citizen  of  the  United  States 
should  engage  in  privateering  against  any  nation  in  amity 
with  us. 

Francis  L.  Lee,  of  Ya.,  Carter  Braxton,  of  Ya.,  and  Oliver 
Walcot,  of  Conn.,  all  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, died  this  year. 

During  this  year  the  French  Republic  became  exasperated 
at  the  United  States  because  they  refused  to  act  with  France 
against  England,  these  two  powers  being  then  at  war. 
France  carried  her  spiteful  feelings  so  far  as  to  drive  our 
minister,  Mr.  Pinckney,  out  of  the  country.  She  also  au- 

* thorized  the  capture  and  confiscation  of  American  vessels. 

This  state  of  things  came  near  involving  the  two  nations  in 
a war ; but  fortunately  it  was  soon  afterwards  settled. 

1798. 

April  3 — The  Navy  Department  created  by  act  of  Congress.  Up  to 
this  time  we  had  no  Navy  Department. 

“ 7 — Mississippi  organized  into  a Territorial  government. 


446  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

April  25 — An  act  of  Congress  authorized  the  President  to  order  any 
alien  to  leave  the  country  whom  he  had  reasonable  grounds 
to  believe  was  here  for  treasonable  purposes. 

July  7 and  9 — Congress  authorize  the  capture  of  French  vessels* 
and  all  treaties  with  France  were  declared  void.  But  these 
difficulties  were  soon  after  settled  by  treaty. 

“ — Under  an  apprehension  that  there  would  be  war  with  France, 
Gen.  Washington  was  again  appointed  commander-in  chief 
of  the  army. 

During  this  and  the  ensuing  year,  the  alien  and  sedition 
laws  were  passed.  These  laws  rendered  John  Adams’  ad- 
ministration very  unpopular. 

Lewis  Morris,  of  N.  Y.,  James  Wilson,  of  Pa.,,  and  Geo. 
Read,  of  Del.,  all  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence, died  this  year. 

1799. 

Feb.  9 — Battle  between  the  United  States  frigate  Constitution,  of  36 
guns,  Capt.  Truxton,  and  the  French  frigate  Insurgent,  of 
48  guns  and  410  men.  The  Insurgent  was  captured. 

By  act  of  Congress,  commercial  intercourse  with  France 
was  prohibited.  Our  ships  were  not  allowed  to  enter 
French  ports. 

Dec.  14 — Washington  died  in  the  68th  year  of  his  age. 

William  Paca,  of  Maryland,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  De- 
claration of  Independence,  died  this  year. 

1800. 

Jan.  23 — Edward  Rutledge,  of  S,  C.,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  De- 
claration of  Independence,  died. 

Feb.  1 — Battle  between  the  United  States  frigate  Constitution,  Capt. 

Truxton,  and  the  French  frigate  La  Vengeance.  La  Ven- 
geance whipped. 

April  4 — An  act  establishing  a uniform  system  of  bankruptcy 
throughout  the  United  States,  passed  by  Congress. 

May  7. — Congress  pass  an  act  to  organize  the  Territory  of  Indiana. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year  the  seat  of  government  was  re- 
moved to  Washington,  and  the  Mississippi  Territory  was 
organized  into  a Territorial  government. 

Sept,  30 — A treaty  was  concluded  between  the  United  States  and 
France,  now  in  the  hands  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  and  the 
long-standing  difficulties  between  the  two  countries  were 
amicably  settled. 

In  the  autumn  of  this  year,  the  fourth  Presidential  election 
occurred,  resulting  in  the  choice  of  Thomas  Jefferson. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


447 


1801. 

March  4 — Thomas  Jefferson  inaugurated  the  fourth  President  of  the 
United  States. 

June  10 — The  Bashaw  of  Tripoli,  one  of  the  petty  princes  of  the 
Barbary  States  in  the  north  of  Africa,  declared  war  against 
the  United  States. 

u 14 — Benedict  Arnold,  the  traitor,  died  in  London. 

1802. 

Jan.  14 — An  act  apportioning  the  Representatives  in  Congress 
among  the  States,  based  on  the  census  of  1800,  by  which  a 
member  was  allowed  for  every  33,000  population. 

Ohio  was  admitted  into  the  Union  this  year,  making  the  17th 
State. 

April  14 — Congress  pass  a new  naturalization  law,  repealing  all  for- 
mer laws  on  this  subject. 

May  3 — The  city  of  Washington  incorporated  by  act  of  Congress. 

In  October,  the  Spanish  Governor  of  Louisiana  (which  be- 
longed to  Spain  at  this  time),  closed  the  port  of  New  Or- 
leans against  the  United  States. 

1803. 

Oct.  31 — The  United  States  frigate  Philadelphia,  Capt.  Bainbridge, 
ran  on  a rock  in  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  when  the  Tripolitans 
captured  her.  The  Philadelphia  was  one  of  a number  of 
U.  S.  ships  sent  into  the  Mediterranean  sea  to  punish  the 
Tripolitans  for  their  piratical  depredations  upon  our  com- 
merce. 

Dec.  20 — The  United  States  took  possession  of  Louisiana,  which 
they  had  bought  this  year  of  Prance,  for  $15,000,000. 

Matthew  Thornton,  of  N.  Y.,  Samuel  Adams,  of  Mass.,  and 
Francis  Lewis,  of  N.  Y.,  all  signers  of  the  Dec.  of  Inde- 
pendence, died  this  year. 

1804. 

Peb.  2 — George  Walton  of  Georgia;  and  May  11,  Robert  Treat 
Paine,  of  Mass.,  signers  of  the  Dec.  of  Independence  died. 

“ 3 — Lieut.  Decatur  of  the  U.  S.  navy,  with  a small  schooner,  in 

the  night,  ran  into  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  and  burnt  the  U. 
S.  frigate  Philadelphia,  which  had  been'  captured  by  the 
Tripolitans. 

July  12 — Gen.  Alexander  Hamilton  died  of  a wound  received  in  a 
duel  with  Aaron  Burr,  the  Vice-President  of  the  U.  S. 

Aug.  3 — Com.  Preble,  commanding  the  American  squadron  in  the 
Mediterranean  sea,  had  a severe  action  with  several  Tripol- 
itan gun-boats,  and  captured  a number  of  them ; and  then, 
in  this,  and  the  following  months,  he  bombarded  Tripoli 
several  times. 

39 


448  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Sept  12 — The  American  squadron  in  the  Mediterranean  sea  captured, 
near  Tripoli,  two  vessels  loaded  with  wheat,  for  the  city. 

Nov.  18 — Gen.  Philip  Schuyler  died  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year,  the  fifth  Presidential  election  took 
place,  at  which  Jefferson  was  re-elected  for  President,  and 
George  Clinton,  of  New  York,  Vice-President. 

1805. 

June  3 — A treaty  of  peace  was  made  with  Tripoli,  and  the  American 
prisoners  liberated. 

This  year  Michigan,  which  was  a part  of  the  great  north-* 
western  territory,  became  distinct,  Congress  having  estab- 
lished a Territorial  government  for  it. 

June  11 — Mich.  Territory  organized  into  a Territorial  government. 

Sept.  27 — William  Moultrie,  a distinguished  officer  of  the  Revolution, 
who  so  bravely  defended  Sullivan’s  Island,  in  1776,  died. 

1806. 

April  10 — Gen.  Gates,  a very  distinguished  General  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  died  in  New  York. 

May  8 — Robert  Morris,  of  Pa.;  June  8,  George  Wythe,  of  Va.;  July 
11,  James  Smith,  of  Pa.,  all  signers  of  the  Dec.  of  Inde- 
pendence, died. 

Oct.  25 — Henry  Knox,  a major-general  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  Secretary  of  War  under  Washington,  died. 

1807. 

Feb.  10 — The  United  States  coast  survey  ordered  by  act  of  Congress. 

Mar.  2 — Congress  enacted  a law  prohibiting  the  slave  trade  from 
Africa  or  any  other  country,  after  1808. 

J une  22 — The  British  ship  Leopard  attacked  the  American  frigate 
Chesapeake,  and  took  four  men  out  of  her,  claiming  them  as 
British  subjects:  this,  and  other  similar- acts,  led  to  the  war 
of  1812  with  England. 

July  2 — President  Jefferson  ordered  all  British  ships  of  war,  in  any 
of  the  American  waters,  to  leave. 

During  this  year,  Col.  Aaron  Burr  was  tried  for  treason,  but 
the  proof  was  insufficient  to  convict  him. 

Aug.  25 — Com.  Preble  of  the  United  States  navy,  who  subdued 
Tripoli,  died. 

Nov.  26 — Oliver  Ellsworth,  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States,  died. 

Dec.  17 — The  Milan  decrees  issued  by  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  dena- 
tionalizing all  vessels  that  submitted  to  the  British  order  in 
council;  this  led  to  the  capture  of  American  vessels  by 
French  cruisers,  and  came  near  causing  a war  between  the 
United  States  and  France. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


449 


Dec.  22 — Congress  laid  an  embargo  on  all  the  shipping  of  the  United 
States.  This  was  done  in  retaliation  towards  England  and 
France  for  their  unfriendly  acts  toward  us.  But  this  anni- 
hilated all  our  foreign  commerce;  became  unpopular,  and 
was  repealed  in  1809. 

1808. 

Jan.  1 — The  act  of  Congress,  passed  in  1804,  abolishing  the  slave 
trade,  went  into  effect  this  day. 

1809. 

Feb.  3 — Illinois  organized  into  a Territorial  government. 

Mar,  1 — Congress  repealed  the  embargo  it  laid  on  all  American  ves- 
sels, Dec.  22,  1807. 

u 4 — James  Madison  inaugurated,  the  fourth  President. 

a 9 — Thomas  Haywood,  of  South  Carolina,  one  of  the  signers  of 

the  Dec.  of  Independence,  died.  And  on  the  26th  of  Oct., 
John  Penn,  another  of  them,  died. 

Aug.  9 — President  Madison,  on  receipt  of  information  that  the  late 
treaty  with  England  was  not  ratified,  suspended  all  inter- 
course with  that  country 

1810. 

Mar.  23 — Napoleon  Bonaparte,  who,  at  this  time,  was  at  the  head 
of  the  French  government,  issued  a decree  by  which  all 
American  vessels  and  cargoes  arriving  in  any  French  ports, 
were  ordered  to  be  seized  and  condemned;  but  in  the  follow- 
ing Nov.,  this  and  all  other  hostile  decrees  were  revoked. 

1811. 

Feb.  26 — Naval  hospitals  established  by  act  of  Congress. 

May  16 — Naval  action  between  the  U.  Slates  ship  President  and  the 
English  ship  Little  Belt,  which  was  captured. 

June  1 — Gen.  W.  Eaton  died,  distinguished  for  his  heroic  conduct  in 
the  expedition  against  Tripoli. 

June  19 — Samuel  Chase,  a Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  died;  he  was 
also  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Dec.  of  Independence. 

Aug.  2 — Williams,  of  Conn.,  another  of  the  signers,  died. 

Nov.  7 — The  frontier  Indians  at  this  time  were  very  hostile  to  the 
United  States;  and  on  this  day  they  attacked  our  troops 
commanded  by  Gen.  Harrison,  at  Tippecanoe  ; a bloody  bat- 
tle ensued,  and  the  Indians  were  defeated. 

Dec.  2 — The  third  apportionment  of  Representatives  among  the  sev-* 
eral  States,  based  on  the  census  of  1810,  by  which  one  Rep,, 
resentative  was  allowed  for  every  35,000  people. 


450  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

1812.  ' 

Mar.  4 — The  charter  of  the  United  States  Bank  expired  by  its  own 
limitation. 

April  4 — Congress  laid  an  embargo  on  all  vessels  in  the  ports  of  the 
United  States.  This  was  done  in  anticipation  of  a war  with 
England. 

u 8 — Louisiana  admitted  into  the  Union,  making  the  18th  State. 

u 20 — George  Clinton,  Vice-President  of  the  U.  States,  died. 

“ 25 — The  General  Land  Office  established  at  "Washington. 

“ 29 — The  U.  S.  frigate  Essex,  Capt.  Porter,  captured  two  Eng 
lish  ships  in  the  Pacific  ocean. 

June  4 — Missouri  organized  into  a Territorial  government. 

11  18 — The  President,  in  conformity  with  an  act  of  Congress 
passed  a few  days  before,  declared  war  with  England. 

July  12 — Gen.  Hull,  with  2,000  troops,  invades  Canada. 

Aug.  8 — Gen.  Hull,  with  his  troops,  evacuates  Canada,  and  crosses 
over  to  Detroit. 

11  9 — Major  VanHorn  met  a few  British  and  Indians  under  the 

famous  chief  Tecumseh,  and  routed  them  with  considerable 
loss. 

11  15 — The  British  Gen.  Brock  summoned  the  city  of  Detroit  to 
surrender,  which  summons  Gen.  Hull,  moved  with  cowardice 
or  treason,  basely  obeyed. 

11  15 — Battle  of  Fort  Chicago ; which,  after  a bloody  contest,  sur- 
rendered to  the  Indians.  The  men  and  women  were  all 
murdered  after  the  surrender. 

“ 19 — The  American  frigate  Constitution,  of  44  guns,  Capt.  Hull, 
engaged  the  English  frigate  Guerriere,  and  in  half  an  hour 
the  Guerriere  lost  half  her  men,  and  was  a wreck. 

Oct.  13 — Queenstown,  Upper  Canada,  captured  by  the  U.  S.  troops 
under  Gen.  Solomon  VanRenssalaer ; but  the  English  were 
reinforced  and  recaptured  it.  They  were  commanded  by 
Gen.  Brock,  who  was  killed  in  this  battle. 

il  18 — The  U.  S.  sloop  of  war  Wasp,  Capt.  Jones,  captured  the 
British  brig  Frolic,  on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  after  a 
bloody  fight  of  three-fourths  of  an  hour ; but  both  were  re- 
captured the  same  day  by  an  English  74-gun  ship. 

16  25 — The  frigate  United  States,  Capt.  Decatur,  engaged  with  the 
English  frigate  Macedonian,  which  struck  her  colors  after 
an  action  of  two  hours.  This  occurred  west  of  the  Canary 
Islands. 

Nov.  22 — The  British  frigate  Southampton  captured  the  U.  S.  brig 
Vixen,  after  a severe  action. 

Dec.  29 — The  U.  S.  frigate  Constitution,  Com.  Bainbridge,  captured 
the  British  frigate  Java,  and  burned  her  off  the  coast  of 
Brazil. 

During  this  year,  our  men-of-war  and  privateers  captured 
nearly  300  English  vessels — a year  of  blood  and  devastation! 
Horrid  war! 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


451 


1813. 


Jan.  17 — The  English  frigate  Narcissus  captured  the  TJ.  S.  brig 
Vixen,  12  guns. 

“ 18 — A detachment  of  U.  S.  troops,  under  Cols.  Lewis  and  Al- 
len, attacked  French  town,  (now  Monroe,)  in  Mich.,  and 
routed  the  English  troops  there. 

“ 22 — The  British  troops  and  Indians,  under  Gen.  Proctor,  at- 
tacked the  Americans  in  the  same  place,  who  surrendered 
upon  conditions,  which  were  basely  violated  by  the  English. 

11  23 — Geo.  Clymer,  of  Pa.,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  died. 

Feb.  8 — The  U.  S.  Govt,  borrowed  $16,000,000  to  carry  on  the  war. 

u 24 — Naval  battle  off  the  coast  of  Demarara,  between  the  U.  S. 
sloop  of  war  Hornet,  Capt.  Lawrence,  and  the  British  brig 
Peacock,  which  was  sunk  in  fifteen  minutes. 

Mar.  14 — The  Delaware  river  blockaded  by  several  English  ships. 

April  19 — Benj.  Rush,  of  Pa.,  a celebrated  physician  and  statesman, 
and  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Dec.  of  Independent,  died. 

11  27 — The  Americans,  under  Gen.  Pike,  capture  York,  (now 

Toronto,)  Canada,  with  a large  quantity  of  public  property. 

May  1 — The  British  Gen.  Proctor  attacked  Fort  Meigs,  Ohio,  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Harrison. 

11  6 — Gen.  Celay’s  troops  attacked  the  besiegers  and  dispersed 
them;  but, 

1 1 8 — while  in  pursuit,  were  themselves  captured. 

“ 20 — The  U.  S.  frigate  Congress,  Capt.  Smith,  captured  the  Eng- 
lish brig  Jean;  and  on  the  22d,  the  brig  Diana,  of  10  guns. 

il  27 — The  English  troops,  under  Sir  George  Prevost,  attack  Sack- 
et’s  Harbor,  N.  Y.,  but  were  repulsed;  and,  on  the  same 
day,  the  Americans  took  Fort  George  on  the  Niagara  river. 

June  1 — The  U.  S.  frigate  Chesapeake,  Capt.  Lawrence,  was  cap- 
tured by  the  British  frigate  Shannon,  after  a terrible  and 
bloody  battle ; Capt.  Lawrence,  and  almost  every  officer  on 
board,  was  killed. 

u 20 — The  English  made  an  attack  on  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  but  were 
repulsed. 

11  25 — The  British  Admiral,  Cockburn,  ordered  the  village  of 
Hampton,  Va.,  to  be  pillaged. 

July  31 — Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  taken  by  the  British. 

a 31 — Com.  Chauncey  took  York,  Upper  Canada,  and  carried  off 
the  stores  of  the  English  army. 

Aug.  2 — The  English  attack  our  fort  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  but  were 
bravely  repulsed  by  the  Americans,  under  Major  Crogan. 

11  2 — Congress  laid  a direct  tax  of  $3,000,000,  and  apportioned  it 

among  the  several  States.  This  was  done  to  support  the 
war  with  England  at  this  time. 

“ 12 — Samuel  Osgood,  for  a time  Postmaster  Gen.,  died,  aged  65. 


452  OUTLINES  OF  U,  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Aug.  13 — The  Br.  ship  Alert  attacked  the  U.  S.  frigate  Essex,  but 
struck  her  colors  in  eight  minutes. 

u 14 — The  U.  S.  brig  Argus  was  captured,  after  a severe  battle  with 
the  British  brig  Pelican. 

“ 30 — A party  of  Creek  Indians  capture  Eort  Mims,  in  Ala., 
and  massacre  nearly  300  men,  women  and  children. 

Sept.  5 — The  Br.  ship  Boxer,  after  a fight  of  forty  minutes,  surren- 
dered to  the  American  brig  Enterprise,  on  the  coast  of  Maine. 

“ 10 — Battle  on  Lake  Erie  between  the  nine  U.  S.  vessels  com- 
manded by  Com.  Perry,  and  a squadron  of  six  English, 
commanded  by  Com.  Barclay,  all  of  which  surrendered  to 
Com.  Perry. 

11  27 — Gen.  Harrison  took  Malden,  in  Upper  Canada,  evacuated 
by  the  English,  under  Gen.  Proctor. 

Oct.  5 — Battle  of  the  Thames,  (Upper  Canada)  eighty  miles  from 
Detroit.  Here  the  great  Indian  chief  Tecumseh,  who  was 
confederate  with  the  English,  was  slain.  Gen.  Harrison 
commanded  the  U.  States  troops,  and  Gen  Proctor  the  Br., 
who  were  nearly  all  killed  or  taken  prisoners. 

“ 25 — Battle  between  the  U.  S.  frigate  Congress,  Capt.  Smith,  and 
the  British  ship  Rose,  which  was  destroyed. 

Nov.  3 — Col.  Coffee  attacked  200  of  the  Creek  Indians,  and  killed 
every  one  of  them  in  retaliation  for  what  they  had  done  at 
Eort  Mims.  A number  of  battles  with  the  Creeks  followed 
this,  during  this  and  the  next  year,  and  in  Jan.  1814,  in 
which  nearly  all  their  warriors  were  killed,  and  thus  ended 
the  Creek  war. 

“ 11 — Battle  of  Williamsburgh,  Canada.  American  loss  300; 
English  less  than  200. 

Dec.  13 — Congress  laid  an  embargo  on  all  ships  and  vessels  in  all  the 
ports  of  the  United  States.  This  was  to  cut  off  trade  with 
England. 

“ 19 — Eort  Niagara  captured  by  the  British,  with  250  menand  25 
cannon  ; and,  on  the  same  day,  Lewistown  and  Tuscarora 
villages,  N.  Y.,  were  burnt  by  the  Indians. 

11  30 — Buffalo  and  Black  Rock,  burnt  by  the  British. 

1814. 

Mar.  24 — Congress  authorized  the  President  to  borrow  $25,000,000,  to 
cary  on  the  war  with  England. 

“ 28 — The  U.  S.  frigate  Essex,  Capt,  Porter,  was  captured  in  the 

harbor  of  Valparaiso  by  two  British  men-of-war. 

April  24 — The  British  took  Washington,  and  burnt  the  public 
buildings. 

11  29 — Battle  between  the  U.  S.  sloop-of-war  Peacock,  and  the 

English  man-of-war Empervier,  which  was  captured  with 
$118,000  in  money. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  453 

May  g — The  English,  under  Gen.  Drummond,  attacked  Oswego,  N. 
Y.  ; the  Americans  had  to  retreat. 

June  9 — The  U.  S.  brig  Rattlesnake,  Lieut.  Renshaw,  captured  the 
British  ship  John. 

“ 28 — The  sloop-of-war  Wasp,  Capt.  Blakeley,  captured  the  Brit- 

ish sloop  Reindeer,  in  nineteen  minutes. 

July  3 — The  Americans  take  Fort  Erie  from  the  English. 

“ 4 — Battle  of  Chippewa,  in  Canada.  U.  S.  troops,  under  Gen. 

Scott,  victorious. 

u 24 — Battle  of  Bridgewater,  (or  Lundy’s  Lane)  near  Niagara 
Falls.  Gen.  Scott,  commanding  IT.  S.  forces  was  victorious. 

Aug.  3 — The  British  crossed  Niagara  river  to  attack  Buffalo,  but 
were  repulsed  by  250  riflemen,  under  Morgan. 

“ 8 — First  meeting  of  IT.  S.  and  English  commissioners  at  Ghent, 

(in  Belgium)  to  treat  for  peace,  and  a treaty  was  concluded 
and  signed  on  the  24  Dec.  following. 

“ 9 — 10 — 11 — Stonington,  Conn.,  bombarded  by  the  British. 

“ 15 — The  British  attack  Fort  Erie,  but  were  severely  repulsed  by 
Gen.  Gaines,  who  commanded  the  IT.  S.  troops,  with  a loss 
of  nearly  1,000  men. 

a 25 — Washington  evacuated  by  the  British  troops  under  command 
of  Gen.  Ross  and  Admiral  Cockburn. 

u 30 — Alexandria,  Va.,  capitulated  to  the  British  army,  and  deliv- 
ered up  the  public  property  and  shipping  to  save  the  city 
from  being  burnt. 

Sept.  1 — The  IT.  S.  sloop-of-war  Wasp,  Capt.  Blakeley,  fell  in  with 
ten  British  vessels,  convoyed  by  a 74-gun  ship — Capt.  B. 
sunk  one  and  burnt  another. 

11  6 — 11 — Battle  of  Plattsburgh,  or  Lake  Champlain — for  it  was 
on  both  land  and  water — Com.  McDonough  commanding  the 
American  fleet,  and  Com.  Downie  the  English,  whose  loss 
was  nearly  2,500  men. 

11  12 — 13 — 14 — Battles  three  days  in  succession,  near  Baltimore,  one 
of  which  is  called  the  battle  of  Baltimore,  and  the  other  the 
battle  of  Fort  McHenry — Gen.  Ross,  the  English  comman- 
der, was  killed  the  first  day. 

Nov.  7 — Pensacola  (Fla.)  taken  by  Gen.  Jackson. 

11  23 — Elbridge  Gerry,  of  Mass.,  once  Vice  President,  died. 

In  Dec.,  of  this  year,  the  celebrated  Hartford  convention 
met. 

1815. 

Jan.  8 — Battle  of  New  Orleans — Gen.  Jackson  commanding  the  IT. 

States  troops,  6,000  in  number ; Gen.  Packenham  the  Eng- 
lish, 12,000  in  number.  Packenham  and  700  of  his  officers 
and  men  were  slain,  and  1,000  wounded;  and,  astonishing  to 
say,  only  seven  Americans  were  killed  and  six  wounded. 
This  closed  the  second  war  with  England  on  the  land  ; yet 


454  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

there  were  a number  of  naval  battles  after  this,  because  the 
news  of  peace  was  not  heard  in  time  to  prevent  them. 

Jan.  15 — The  U.  S.  frigate  President,  Com.  Decatur,  was  captured  by 
four  English  ships,  after  a chase  of  18  hours. 

Feb.  11 — Fort  Boyer,  at  Mobile,  with  a garrison  of  375  men,  sur- 
rendered to  5,000  English  troops,  under  Lambert,  with  a 
fleet  of  thirteen  ships. 

“ 18 — Treaty  of  peace  concluded  at  Ghent,  Dec.  24,  1814,  ratified 
by  the  U.  S.  Senate. 

“ 24 — The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  was  authorized  by  Congress 
to  issue  $25,000,000  in  Treasury  notes. 

“ 28 — Battle  between  the  U.  S.  frigate  Constitution,  Capt.  Stewart, 
and  the  English  frigate  Cyane,  and  sloop  Levant,  and  both 
of  them  were  captured  by  the  Constitution,  off  the  island  of 
Maderia. 

Mar.  3 — Congress  declares  war  against  Algiers,  in  Africa;  and  dur- 
ing this  month  the  U.  S.  frigate  Hornet  captured  the  Brit- 
ish brig  Penguin,  off  the  Coast  of  Brazil. 

May  3 — James  McHenry,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  died  at  Baltimore. 

June  17 — Commodore  Decatur,  in  the  Mediterranean  sea,  captured 
an  Algerian  frigate  of  46  guns.  A treaty  was  thereupon 
negotiated  between  the  United  States  and  Algiers  ; after 
which,  these  piratical  barbarians  behaved  themselves. 

u 30 — The  TJ.  S.  vessel  Peacock  had  a fight  with  the  British  ship 
Nautilus,  which  surrendered  in  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes. 
This  took  place  in  the  straits  of  Sunda. 

1816. 

In  this  year  the  second  U.  S.  Bank  was  chartered,  with  a 
capital  of  $35,000,000,  to  continue  twenty  years. 

Indiana,  (a  part  of  the  great  north-western  territory,)  was  ad- 
mitted as  a State  this  year — making  the  19th  State. 

Nov.  5 — Gouverneur  Morris,  an  eminent  statesman,  died  at  Morris- 
sania,  near  New  York. 

1817. 

Mar.  3 — By  a law  passed  this  day,  all  American  citizens  were  en- 
joined to  observe  our  neutrality  laws,  and  forbidden  from 
rendering  any  aid  to  any  nation  which  was  at  war  with  any 
other  nation  at  peace  with  us. 

ct  4 — James  Monroe,  the  fifth  President,  inaugurated. 

June  24 — Thomas  McKean,  of  Del.,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  died. 

December — The  Mississippi  Territory  divided;  tire  western  part  ad- 
mitted preliminarily  as  a State,  making  the  20tli ; and  the 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  455 

eastern  part  organized  into  a Territorial  government,  by 
the  name  of  the  Territory  of  Alabama. 

In  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  the  Creek  and  Seminole  In- 
dians committed  depredations  in  Georgia  and  Alabama, 
when  Generals  Gaines  and  Jackson  were  sent  to  subdue 
them. 


1818. 

May  24 — Gen.  Jackson  took  Pensacola,  Fla.,  from  the  Spaniards, 
and  sent  the  authorities  to  Havana.  This  was  done  during 
his  campaign  against  the  Seminole  and  Creek  Indians. 

“ 25 — Gen.  Mitchell,  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  died. 

Dec.  3 — Illinois  admitted  into  the  Union — making  the  twenty-first 
State. 

“ 10 — Mississippi  fully  admitted  as  a State,  by  resolution  of 

both  houses  of  Congress. 

1819. 

Mar.  2 — Arkansas  formed  into  a Territorial  government. 

Dec.  14 — Alabama  admitted  into  the  Union — making  the  twenty- 
second  State. 

1820. 

Feb.  15 — Wm.  Ellery,  of  Rhode  Island,  a signer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  died. 

March  15 — Maine  admitted  into  the  Union — making  the  twenty- 
third  State. 

Aug.  23 — Com.  Perry,  the  hero  of  the  battle  on  Lake  Erie,  died  of 
yellow  fever  at  Trinidad,  "West  Indies,  on  his  birth-day. 

October— Florida  ceded  by  Spain  to  the  United  States  for  $5,000,000. 

The  question  of  the  admission  of  Missouri  as  a free  or  slave 
State  greatly  agitated  the  country  this  year.  The  famous 
**  Missouri  Compromise  ,J  settled  the  question. 

1821. 

Mar.  4 — James  Monroe  inaugurated  upon  his  second  term  of  the 
Presidency,  and  D.  D.  Tompkins  upon  his  second  term  of 
the  Vice  Presidency. 

Mar.  22 — Com.  Stephen  Decatur  died  at  Washington. 

July  1 — Gen.  Jackson  took  possession  of  Florida. 

Aug.  4 — Wm.  Floyd,  of  Hew  York,  a signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  died. 

Missouri  was  admitted  this  year — making  the  twenty-fourth 
State. 


456  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

1822. 

March  7 — Congress  again  apportions  the  Representatives  in  Congress 
among  the  several  States,  based  on  the  census  of  1820.  By 
this  act  the  ratio  of  representation  was  fixed  at  one  Repre- 
sentative to  40,000  persons. 

C£  30 — Florida  was  formed  into  a Territorial  government. 

May  5 — Thomas  Truxton,  a distinguished  naval  officer,  both  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  and  in  our  short  war  with  France,  died. 
u 8 — Gen.  Stark,  a prominent  officer  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
died. 

Oct.  27 — William  Lowndes,  a distinguished  statesman  of  South  Car- 
olina, died  at  sea. 

During  this  year,  gangs  of  pirates  infested  the  West  Indies, 
committing  depredations  upon  our  commerce,  when  the 
United  States  government  sent  a naval  force  to  destroy 
them.  It  captured  over  twenty  piratical  vessels. 

1823. 

This  year  Com.  Porter  broke  up  and  dispersed  the  remainder 
of  the  piratical  gangs  in  the  West  India  Islands,  who  had 
withstood  the  onslaught  which  our  government  had  made 
upon  them  last  year. 

1824. 

March  13 — A convention  at  which  the  United  States  and  England 
were  represented,  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  adopting  mea- 
sures to  suppress  the  slave  trade. 

April — United  States  and  Russian  commissioners  met  to  settle  the 
north-western  boundaries  between  the  two  countries. 

Aug.  24 — Lafayette  arrived  from  France,  and  made  a tour  through 
the  country. 

Oct.  29 — Charles  Pinckney,  of  South  Carolina,  an  eminent  orator  and 
statesman,  and  one  of  the  framers  of  the  Constitution,  died. 

The  tenth  Presidential  election  took  place  in  the  fall  of  this 
year;  but  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  and  the  elec- 
tion went  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  when  John  Q. 
Adams  was  elected. 

1825. 


Mar.  3 — An  act  to  establish  a navy  yard  on  the  coast  of  Fla.  passed. 

“ 4 — John  Quincy  Adams,  the  sixth  President,  inaugurated. 

June  11 — Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  of  1ST.  Y.,  an  ex-Vice-President,  died. 
Nov.  10 — Com.  McDonough,  who  commanded  the  U.  S.  fleet  at  the 
battle  of  Plattsburgh,  on  Lake  Champlain,  in  1814,  died  at 
Middletown,  Conn. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


457 


1826. 

July  4 — John  Adams,  aged  91,  and  Thomas  Jefferson,  both  of  whom 
had  been  Presidents  of  the  United  States,  and  both  signers 
of  the  Dec.  of  Independence,  died. 

1827. 

We  find  nothing  in  the  history  of  the  United  States  worthy 
of  particular  notice  during  this  year.  We  were  at  peace 
u with  all  the  world  and  the  rest  of  mankind;”  there  was 
very  little  political  excitement,  and  the  country  was  pros- 
perous and  happy  under  the  good  administration  of  good 
President  John  Quincy  Adams. 

1828. 

Feb.  11 — DeWitt  Clinton  died,  while  in  the  office  of  the  Governor 
of  New  York. 

A new  protective  tariff  was  enacted  this  year,  with  a view  to 
encourage  American  manufactures. 

The  eleventh  Presidential  election  took  place  in  the  autumn  of 
this  year,  and  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Andrew  Jackson. 

1829. 

Jan.  29 — Timothy  Pickering,  Secretary  of  State  under  Washington 
and  Adams,  died. 

Peb.  29 — The  Virginia  House  of  Delegates  passed  a resolution  deny- 
ing the  right  of  Congress  to  pass  the  tariff. 

Mar.  4 — Andrew  Jackson,  the  seventh  President,  inaugurated,  and 
John  C.  Calhoun  entered  upon  his  second  term  as  V.  Prest. 

May  19 — A treaty  of  peace,  friendship,  commerce  and  navigation, 
between  the  U.  States  and  Brazil,  ratified  at  Washington. 

May  17 — John  Jay  died  at  Bedford,  N.  Y.  He  was  one  of  the  Pres- 
idents of  the  Continental  Congress,  minister  to  Spain  and  to 
England,  Governor  of  New  York,  and  Chief  Justice  of  the 
United  States. 

June  4 — The  U.  S.  frigate  Pulton  blown  up  at  the  navy  yard,  Brook- 
lyn ; 26  lives  lost. 

Aug.  12 — Mr.  McLane,  minister  to  England,  and  Mr.  Rives,  minis- 
ter to  Prance,  embark  in  the  U.  S.  frigate  Constitution,  at 
New  York. 

Nov.  26 — The  Hon.  Bushrod  Washington,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  died. 

1830. 

May  7 — A treaty  signed  at  Constantinople,  between  the  United  States 


458 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


and  Turkey,  by  which  the  United  States  obtained  the  free 
navigation  of  the  Black  Sea. 

May  29 — The  office  of  Solicitor  of  the  Treasury  created  by  act  of 
Congress. 

Aug.  4 — Gen.  Philip  Stuart,  an  officer  of  the  Revolution,  died  at 
Washington. 

1831. 

Jan.  10 — The  disputed  northern  boundary  line,  between  the  United 
States  and  England,  settled  by  the  king  of  the  Netherlands, 
to  whom  the  matter  had  been  referred. 

April  19 — Dissolution  of  President  Jackson’s  cabinet. 

July  4 — James  Monroe,  the  fifth  President  of  the  United  States,  died 
at  New  York,  aged  73. 

Aug.  25 — An  eulogy  on  James  Monroe  delivered  at  Boston,  by  John 
Quincy  Adams. 

Sept.  26 — The  national  anti-Masonic  convention,  at  Baltimore,  nom- 
inated William  Wirt  for  President. 

Oct.  1 — A free-trade  convention  met  at  Philadelphia. 

11  26 — A tariff  convention  of  over  500  delegates  met  at  New  York 
and  adopted  a memorial  to  Congress. 

Nov.  5 — Gen.  Philip  YanCourtlandt,  an  officer  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  died  at  New  York,  aged  82. 

Dec.  14 — The  national  Republican  party  assembled  at  Baltimore,  and 
nominated  Henry  Clay  for  President. 

1832. 

Jan.  25 — The  Senate,  by  the  casting  vote  of  the  President,  refused  to 
confirm  the  nomination  of  Martin  YanBuren  as  United 
States  minister  to  England. 

Mar.  3 — The  United  States  Supreme  Court  decided  that  the  law  of 
Georgia,  by  which  several  missionaries  to  the  Indians  in  that 
State  were  imprisoned  for  four  years  in  the  penitentiary, 
was  contrary  to  the  laws  and  treaties  of  the  United  States, 
and  therefore  null  and  void. 

April  1 — A war  broke  out  between  the  United  States  and  the  Win- 
nebago Indians,  called  the  Black  Hawk  war. 

“ 2 — Treaty  concluded  with  the  Creek  Indians,  by  which  they 
sell  all  their  lands  east  of  the  Mississippi  river  to  the  United 
States. 

May  5 — The  treaty  respecting  commerce,  navigation,  and  the  boun- 
dary line  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  ratified  at 
Washington. 

u 21 — Com.  Rogers  died  on  board  his  ship  off  Buenos  Ayres. 

lt  22 — Martin  Yan  Buren  nominated  by  the  Democrats,  at  Balti- 
more, for  Yice  President  of  the  United  States. 

M 27 — An  act  apportioning  the  Representatives  in  Congress,  based 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


459 


on  the  fifth  census,  in  which  the  ratio  between  Representa- 
tives and  population  was  fixed  at  one  Representative  to  47,- 
700  people. 

June  1 — Gen.  Thomas  Sumpter,  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
died  in  South  Carolina. 

July  9 — The  office  of  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  created  by 
act  of  Congress. 

“ 10 — An  act  to  establish  naval  hospitals  at  Charlestown,  Mass., 
Brooklyn,  NT.  Y.,  and  Pensacola,  Fla.,  passed. 

U 11  — President  Jackson  vetoed  the  bill  re-chartering  the  United 
States  Bank. 

Aug.  27 — Black  Hawk,  the  celebrated  Indian  chief  and  warrior, 
captured. 

Nov.  12 — The  anti-tariff  convention  meet  at  Milledgeville,  Geo. 

“ 14 — Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  Md.,  died.  He  was  the 
last  surviving  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

11  19 — A convention  of  delegates  in  South  Carolina  meet  at  Co- 
lumbia, and  pass  an  ordinance  declaring  the  laws  of  Con- 
gress, in  relation  to  the  tariff,  unconstitutional  and  void. 

Dec.  10 — President  Jackson  issues  his  proclamation,  denouncing  the 
proceedings  of  the  South  Carolina  convention,  and  warning 
the  people  of  that  State  of  the  consequences  of  following  its 
dictates. 

“ 18 — Treaty  of  commerce  and  navigation  concluded  between 
the  United  States  and  Russia,  at  St.  Petersburg. 

11  20 — Gov.  Hayne,  of  South  Carolina,  issues  a proclamation  in 
answer  to  that  of  President  Jackson. 

u 28 — John  C.  Calhoun,  the  Vice  President,  resigns  his  office. 

The  twelfth  Presidential  election  occurred  this  fall,  when  An- 
drew Jackson  was  re-elected. 

1833. 

Mar.  1 — The  new  tariff  bill  passed,  called  the  compromise  act. 

11  4 — Andrew  Jackson  inaugurated  upon  his  second  term. 

“ 10 — Com.  Samuel  Tucker,  of  Maine,  died. 

“ 31 — The  Treasury  Department  building  burnt  at  Washington. 

June  1 — Oliver  Wolcott,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  under  Washing- 
ton, died. 

July  27 — Com.  Bainbridge  died,  aged  60. 

Sept.  23 — Wm.  J.  Duane,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  was  removed 
from  his  office  by  President  Jackson,  because  he  declined  to 
remove  the  United  States  deposits  from  the  U.  S.  Bank  ; 
and  Roger  B.  Taney,  of  Md.,  was  appointed  in  his  place, 
who  removed  them  on  the  first  of  October. 

1834. 

Mar.  28 — The  United  States  Senate  passed  a vote  of  censure  of  Pre- 


460 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


sident  Jackson,  for  removing  the  government  deposits  from 
the  United  States  Bank. 

Sept.  15 — Wm.  H.  Crawford,  of  Georgia,  died.  He  was  an  eminent 
statesman,  and  a candidate  for  the  Presidency  in  1824. 

1835. 

Jan.  1 — Hugh  L.  White  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States  by  the  Legislature  of  Alabama. 

“ 31 — Daniel  Webster  nominated  for  the  same  office,  by  the 
Legislature  of  Massachusetts. 

Mar.  3 — By  act  of  Congress  three  branch  mints  were  established ; 

one  at  New  Orleans,  one  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  and  one  at 
Dahlonega,  Ga. 

May  14 — A treaty  concluded  with  the  Cherokee  Indians,  in  which 
they  agreed  to  sell  all  their  lands  east  of  the  Mississippi 
river  for  $5,262,251,  and  retire  to  the  Indian  Territory  west 
of  the  Mississippi  river. 

11  20 — A convention  of  the  Democratic  party  met  at  Baltimore, 
and  nominated.  Martin  Yan  Buren  for  President. 

July  6 — Chief  Justice  John  Marshall  died,  aged  80. 

Aug.  30 — Wm.  T.  Barry,  Postmaster  General  under  Gen.  Jackson, 
died  at  Liverpool,  on  his  way  to  Spain,  as  U.  S.  Minister. 

Dec.  28 — Battle  of  Tampa  Bay,  Fla.,  between  a company  of  110  U. 

S.  troops  under  Major  Dade,  when  all  but  three  of  his  men 
were  killed.  About  the  same  time  another  battle  with 
the  Indians  was  fought  at  Withlacoochie,  Fla.,  and  forty  of 
them  were  slain.  In  this  and  the  following  year,  the  Semi- 
nole war  raged  in  Florida.  The  Indians,  under  their  chief 
Osceola,  were  finally  driven  out  of  their  country,  and  across 
the  Mississippi  river.  This  war  cost  the  United  States  $15,- 
000,000 — three  times  the  money  originally  paid  for  Florida. 

1836. 

Jan.  20 — A treaty  of  peace,  friendship  and  navigation  concluded 
between  the  United  States  and  Venezuela,  at  Caraccas. 

February — The  U.  S.  Bank  was  chartered  by  the  Legislature  of 
Pennsylvania. 

April  20 — Wisconsin  organized  into  a Territorial  government. 

May  23 — Edward  Livingston,  Secretary  of  State  under  President 
Jackson,  died. 

June  15 — Michigan  conditionally  admitted — (January  26,  1837,  ful- 
ly admitted)  making  the  25th  Stale. 

-u  “ — Arkansas  admitted — making  the  26th  State. 

11  23 — State  banks  made  the  depositories  of  the  United  States 
moneys,  instead  of  the  U.  S.  Bank ; and  by  the  same  act, 
the  surplus  funds  of  the  government  were  loaned  to  the  sev- 
eral States  in  proportion  to  their  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  461 

June  28 — James  Madison,  ex-President  of  the  United  States,  died, 
aged  86. 

july  4 — The  office  of  Commissioner  of  Patents  created. 

Sept.  14 — Aaron  Burr,  ex-Yice  President  of  the  United  States,  died, 
aged  81. 

Dec.  15 — The  General  Post  Office,  the  Patent  Office,  and  the  Wash- 
ington Post  Office  burnt — 7,000  models,  163  large  folio  vol- 
umes of  records,  9,000  valuable  drawings,  and  10,000  origi- 
nal descriptions  destroyed. 

Daring  this  year,  in  addition  to  the  war  with  the  Seminole  In- 
dians, the  United  States  were  at  war  with  the  Creek  Indians, 
in  Geo.,  but  it  was  terminated  this  year. 

The  thirteenth  Presidential  election  in  the  autumn  of  this  year, 
and  Martin  Yan  Buren  was  elected. 

1837. 

Jan.  16 — The  United  States  Senate  passed  a resolution,  24  to  19,  to 
expunge  from  its  records  (by  drawing  black  lines  around 
it,)  the  resolution  passed  March  28,  1834,  viz. : that  the 
President  (Jackson)  in  the  lateExecutiveproceedings,  in  re- 
lation to  the  public  revenue,  had  assumed  authority  not  con- 
ferred by  the  Constitution  or  law,  but  derogatory  to  both. 

Mar.  4 — Martin  Yan  Buren  inaugurated  the  eighth  President. 

11  6 — A treaty  was  signed  by  the  Seminole  Indians,  agreeing  to 

emigrate  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  but  through  the  influ- 
ence of  their  chief,  Osceola,  they  broke  it ; after  which  he 
was  seized  by  Gen.  Jessup,  and  confined  in  Port  Moultrie, 
where  he  died. 

Sept.  29 — By  treaty  between  the  United  States  and  the  Sioux  In- 
dians, they  sold  all  their  lands  east  of  the  Mississippi  river 
(about  5,000,000  acres,)  for  $1,000,000. 

Oct.  1 — The  Winnebago  Indians  did  the  same  thing  for  $1,500,000, 
and  agreed  to  move  west  of  the  Mississippi  river. 

“ 12 — Congress  authorize  the  issue  of  $10,000,000  treasury  notes. 
u 25 — A severe  battle  was  fought  with  the  Florida  Indians,  but 
the  U.  S.  troops,  under  Gen.  Taylor,  defeated  them. 

All  the  banks  in  the  United  States  suspended  specie  payment 
during  this  year,  which  greatly  embarrassed  the  govern- 
ment; and  the  President  called  an  extra  session  of  Congress, 
which  passed  an  act  to  issue  $10,000,000  of  Treasury  notes, 
as  a measure  of  relief. 

1838. 

Jan.  5. — President  Yan  Buren  issued  a proclamation  to  the  people  of 
the  United  States,  warning  them  not  to  violate  our  neutrality 
laws,  by  taking  part  in  the  rebellion  of  the  Canadians 
against  the  English  government,  at  this  time. 


462 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


Junp-  12 — Territorial  government  of  Iowa  organized. 

Aug.  19 — The  United  States  exploring  expedition  sailed  from  Hamp- 
ton Roads,  Va.,  with  six  vessels,  their  officers,  and  a corps 
of  scientific  men,  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  the  Arctic  re- 
gions. 

Near  the  close  of  this  year  the  Cherokee  Indians,  of  Georgia, 
completed  their  emigration  from  that  State  to  the  Indian 
Territory,  west  of  the  Mississippi  river.  This  was  in  conse- 
quence of  the  hostile  legislation  of  the  State  of  Georgia 
against  them.  The  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  had 
decided  these  laws  to  be  unconstitutional ; but  this  decision 
was  disregarded,  and  the  Indians  were  driven  off.  u Lo  ! 
the  poor  Indian !” 

1839. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  year,  Gen.  Macomb  induced  the 
Seminole  Indians  to  make  a treaty  of  peace  with  the  United 
States,  but  they  were  treacherous,  and  many  murders  were 
still  committed. 

This  year  there  was  trouble  between  the  United  States  and 
England,  respecting  our  N.  E.  boundary  line.  Eor  the  set- 
tlement of  this  question,  see  July,  1842. 

Dec.  2 — Congress  assembled,  but  it  was  three  weeks  before  the  house 
was  organized. 

“ 4 — A Whig  convention,  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  nominate  W.  H. 
Harrison  as  their  candidate  for  President. 

1840. 

May  5 — A Democratic  convention  assembled  at  Baltimore,  and  nom- 
inated Martin  Van  Buren  as  their  candidate  for  the  office 
of  President. 

June  30 — Congress  passed  the  sub-treasury  act,  which  had  been  de- 
feated in  1837. 

Nov.  The  fourteenth  Presidential  election  held  this  fall,  when  the 
Whig  candidate,  Wm.  H.  Harrison,  was  elected.  This  was 
the  most  exciting  election  ever  held  in  this  country, 

Dec.  19 — Felix  Grundy,  U.  S.  Senator  from  Tennessee,  a very  prom- 
inent statesman,  and  zealous  friend  of  President  Jackson, 
died. 

1841. 

Jan.  i4 — Congress  abolished  imprisonment  for  debts  due  to  the  Uni- 
ted States  wherever  it  was  abolished  by  State  laws. 

March  4 — Wm.  H.  Harrison  inaugurated  the  ninth  President. 

“ 17 — The  President  called  (by  proclamation)  an  extra  session  of 
Congress  to  meet  on  the  31st  inst.,  to  consider  the  subjects 
of  revenue  and  finances  of  the  country. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  403 

April  4 — William  EL  Harrison  President  of  the  United  States,  died, 
and  John  Tyler,  the  Yice  President,  became  acti'ng  Presi- 
dent. This  was  the  first  time  such  an  event  had  happened. 

May  14 — Acting  President  John  Tyler  had  issued  a proclamation  rec- 
ommending this  day  to  he  observed  as  a day  of  fasting  and 
prayer,  on  account  of  President  Harrison’s  death,  which 
was  so  observed. 

June  25 — Alexander  Macomb,  chief  in  command  of  the  United  States 
army,  died  at  Washington. 

July  21 — Congress  authorized  the  President  to  borrow  $12,000,000 
for  the  support  of  government. 

Aug.  9 — The  sub-treasury  act  repealed. 

“ 18 — The  United  States  bankrupt  law  went  into  operation  ; hut 
it  was  repealed  in  1843. 

“ 16 — The  President  vetoed  a hill  to  charter  a U.  S.  Bank. 

Sept.  9 — He  vetoed  another  hill  for  the  same  purpose.  This  made 
the  fourteenth  time  the  veto  power  had  been  used  ; Wash- 
ington vetoed  two  bills,  Madison  four,  Monroe  one,  Jack- 
son  five,  Tyler  two. 

11  10 — All  the  members  of  Tyler’s  cabinet,  except  Daniel  Webster, 
resigned. 

1842. 

June  25 — Congress  again  apportion  the  Representatives  in  Congress 
among  the  States,  on  the  basis  of  the  sixth  census  (1840), 
fixing  the  ratio  of  one  Representative  to  70,600  people. 

J uly  23 — The  Bunker-Hill  monument  finished,  which  had  been  in 
progress  seventeen  years. 

In  July  the  Senate  ratified  the  treaty  which  had  just  been  ne- 
gotiated by  Daniel  Webster  for  the  United  States,  and  Lord 
Ashburton,  for  England,  in  relation  to  the  northeastern 
boundary  between  the  United  States  and  the  British  posses- 
sions in  North  America. 

Aug.  14 — It  was  officially  announced  that  the  war  with  the  Indians 
in  Florida  had  ceased. 

u 26 — By  law  the  fiscal  year  of  the  United  States  government 
was  made  to  commence  on  the  1st  day  of  July  of  each  year. 

Oct.  2 — The  U.  S.  sloop  of  war  Concord  lost  on  the  rocks  in  the  Mo- 
zambique channel. 

Nov.  26 — Robert  Smith,  a member  of  the  cabinet  under  Jefferson 
and  Madison,  died  in  Baltimore,  aged  85. 

1843. 

March  3 — Congress  make  an  appropriation  of  $30,000  *to  enable  S. 

F.  B.  Morse  to  erect  an  experimental  telegraph  between 
Washington  and  Baltimore.  This  was  the  first  electric  tel- 
egraph in  the  world. 

March  3 — Com.  Porter,  of  the  United  States  navy,  hut  at  this  time 
American  minister  to  Turkey,  died  at  Constantinople. 

30 


464  OUTLINES  OF  tj.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

April  1 — John  Armstrong,  a prominent  officer  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  Secretary  of  War  under  Madison,  died  at  Red 
Hook,  N.  Y. 

June  — In  this  month  the  Dorr  rebellion  broke  out  in  Rhode  Isl- 
and. 

Aug.  26 — The  United  States  frigate  Missouri,  lying  at  anchor  at  Gi- 
braltar, Spain,  took  fire  and  was  consumed. 

Dec.  18 — Smith  Thompson,  a judge  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  died 
at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  aged  76. 

1844. 

Feb.  28 — A very  large  wrought-iron  gun  burst  on  board  the  U.  S. 

steamer  Princeton,  while  firing  a salute,  and  killed  Abel  P. 
Upshur,  then  Secretary  of  State,  and  a number  of  other  dis- 
tinguished gentlemen  who  were  on  board. 

May  1 — Henry  Clay  nominated  for  President,  and  Theodore  Fre- 
linghuysenforVice  President,  by  a Whig  convention  assem- 
bled at  Baltimore. 

« 7 — Morgan  Lewis,  a distinguished  officer  and  statesman  during 
the  Revolution,  died  in  New  York. 

11  27 — James  K.  Polk  nominated  by  the  Democratic  convention  as- 
sembled at  Baltimore,  for  President,  and  George  M.  Dallas 
for  Vice  President. 

The  fifteenth  Presidential  election  occurred  during  the  Fall, 
and  resulted  in  the  election  of  James  K.  Polk,  of  Tenn., 
over  Henry  Clay,  of  Ky. 

t 

1845. 

Jan.  16 — The  treaty  made  by  Mr.  Cushing,  United  States  minister  to 
China,  and  the  Chinese  commissioners,  unanimously  ratified 
by  the  United  States  Senate. 

“ 23 — Congress  enact  that  hereafter  all  Presidential  elections  shall 
be  held  on  the  same  day  in  all  the  States,  viz. : on  the  first 
Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November  in  each  year 
when  such  election  is  held. 

11  25 — A joint  resolution  to  annex  Texas  to  the  United  States 
passed  the  House,  (it  had  previously  passed  the  Senate,)  by  a 
vote  of  120  to  98. 

March  1 — Texas  annexed  to  the  United  States  by  resolution  of  both 
houses  of  Congress. 

u 4 — James  K.  Polk  inaugurated  the  tenth  regular  President. 

11  3- — Florida  admitted  into  the  Union,  making  the  twenty-sev- 
enth State. 

June  18 — Andrew  Jackson  died. 

11  18 — A joint  resolution  passed  both  houses  of  the  Texan  Con- 

gress, assenting  to  the  annexation  to  the  United  States. 

Sept.  10 — Joseph  Story,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  United  States  Su- 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  465 

preme  Court,  and  one  of  the  most  able  of  American  jurists, 
died,  aged  66. 

Dec.  15 — A resolution  offered  by  Mr.  Cass,  in  the  United  States  Sen- 
ate, and  a speech  made  by  him,  caused  much  excitement,  as 
they  portended  a war  with  England  about  the  boundary 
line  between  Oregon  and  the  northwestern  British  posses- 
sions. It  was  this  originated  the  Democratic  saying,  “54° 
40'  or  fight.’ ’ 

u 24 — Texas  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a State,  making  the 
twenty-ninth. 

11  28 — Iowa,  haying  complied  with  the  conditions  imposed  upon 
her  by  an  act  of  March  3,  1845,  was  now  fully  admitted  into 
the  Union,  making  the  twenty-eighth  State. 

1846. 

March  28 — The  American  army,  3,500  strong,  under  Gen.  Z.  Taylor, 
post  themselves  on  the  Rio  Grande,  opposite  Matamoras. 
The  Mexicans  regarded  this  as  an  invasion  of  their  territory, 
and  was  the  immediate  cause  of  the  Mexican  war. 

April  24 — Hostilities  commence  between  the  U.  S.  and  Mexico. 

u 26 — First  battle,  when  the  Mexicans  made  an  attack  on  sixty- 
three  United  States  dragoons,  Capt.  Thornton,  who  surren- 
dered, with  a loss  of  16  men. 

May  8 — Battle  of  Palo  Alto,  with  6,000  Mexicans  against  2,300 
Americans  under  Gen.  Taylor.  Mexicans  whipped,  with  a 
loss  of  100  men  killed.  Americans,  4 killed  and  40  woun- 
ded. Major  Ringgold  was  killed  at  this  battle. 

u 9 — Battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma.  The  Mexicans  again  de- 
feated, and  their  general  (La  Vega)  taken  prisoner.  Gen. 
Taylor  commanded  the  U.  S.  forces. 

u 12 — Congress  passed  an  act  declaring  that  war  existed  between 
the  United  States  and  Mexico,  by  the  act  of  Mexico.  Au- 
thorized the  raising  of  50,000  troops,  and  voted  $10,000,000 
to  carry  on  the  war. 

tl  13 — President  Polk  issued  a proclamation  that  war  existed  with 
Mexico. 

July  6 — Com.  Sloat,  of  the  United  States  navy,  took  Monterey,  on 
the  coast  of  California,  and  issued  a proclamation  that  that 
country  was  annexed  to  the  United  States. 

In  the  same  month  Com.  Stockton  took  San  Diego  from  the 
Mexicans. 

“ 9 — Congress  retrocede  the  county  of  Alexandria,  in  the  District 
of  Columbia,  back  to  Virginia. 

a 17 — The  treaty  between  the  United  States  and  England  respect- 
ing the  boundary  line  between  Oregon  and  the  English  pos- 
sessions in  North  America,  was  ratified  in  London. 

11  22 — Congress  authorized  the  issue  of  $10,0'  0,000  treasury  notes. 
By  this  means  the  loan  above  mentioned  was  raised. 


466  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

July  30 — Congress  pass  a new  tariff,  reducing  the  duties  on  imported 
goods.  This  is  known  as  the  tariff  of  1846. 

Aug.  3 — President  Polk  vetoed  the  river  and  harbor  bill,  on  the 
ground  that  it  was  unconstitutional,  and  that  the  money 
was  wanted  to  carry  on  the  Mexican  war. 

“ 8 — He  also  vetoed  the  French  spoliation  bill,  on  the  ground  that 
it  had  not  been  sufficiently  considered,  and  that  the  money 
could  not  he  spared  in  time  of  war. 

11  18 — Gen.  Kearney  took  peaceable  possession  of  Santa  Fe,  in 
Mexico,  and  issued  a proclamation  absolving  the  Mexicans 
from  their  allegiance  to  the  Mexican  government. 

u 19 — Com.  Stockton  declared  all  the  Mexican  ports,  south  of  San 
Diego,  in  a state  of  blockade. 

u 22 — The  whole  of  California  was  at  this  time  in  the  military 
possession  of  the  United  States. 

Sept.  21,  22,  23,  24 — Battle  of  Monterey  between  4,700  United  States 
troops,  under  Gen.  Taylor,  and  10,000  Mexicans,  under  Gen. 
Ampudia.  On  the  24th  an  armistice  of  eight  weeks  was 
agreed  to,  when  the  Mexicans  surrendered  the  city. 

Oct.  25 — Tobasco  was  bombarded  by  the  Gulf  squadron,  under  Com. 

Perry,  and  all  the  Mexican  vessels  in  the  port  were  captured 
or  destroyed. 

Nov.  14 — Com.  Connor  took  peaceable  possession  of  the  Mexican  sea- 
port, Tampico. 

Dec.  8 — The  United  States  brig  Somers  was  capsized  by  a squall  off 
Yera  Cruz,  and  sank  in  ten  minutes,  with  a loss  of  two  offi- 
cers and  thirty-nine  men. 

“ 25 — Battle  of  Brazito,  near  El  Passo,  between  450  Americans, 
under  Col.  Doniphan,  and  a body  of  Mexican  cavalry,  who 
were  defeated. 

1847. 

Jan.  8 — The  Mexican  Congress  voted  to  raise  $15,000,000  for  the  war 
against  the  United  States,  by  a mortgage  upon  or  the  sale 
of  the  property  of  the  clergy. 

Feb.  23 — Battle  of  Buena  Yista,  with  4,759  United  States  troops, 
under  Gen.  Taylor,  and  from  17,000  to  22,000  Mexicans,  un- 
der Gen.  Santa  Anna,  who  was  defeated,  with  a loss  of  1,500 
men.  United  States  loss,  756. 

u 23— -On  this  day,  ex-President  John  Quincy  Adams  died  at 
Washington. 

March  1 — Gen.  Kearney,  by  proclamation,  absolved  the  people  of 
California  from  their  allegiance  to  Mexico,  and  regarded 
them  as  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

u 3 — Wisconsin  admitted  into  the  Union  by  act  of  Congress, 

which  took  effect  on  the  29th  May,  1848,  making  the  thirti- 
eth State. 

“ 9 — Gen.  Scott  landed  with  12,000  men  at  Yera  Cruz.  On  tho 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  467 

22d,  23d,  24th,  25th  and  26th,  he  bombarded  the  city,  which 
finally  surrendered. 

April  18 — Battle  of  Cerro  Gordo ; United  States  forces  under  Gen. 

Twiggs,  Mexican  under  Gen.  Santa  Anna,  who  was  defeated 
with  a loss  of  3,000  prisoners,  43  pieces  of  artillery,  and  5,000 
stand  of  arras. 

Aug.  20 — Cherubusco  (near  the  city  of  Mexico)  stormed  and  taken 
by  Gen.  Worth,  with  9,000  troops,  against  a much  superior 
force  of  Mexicans. 

Sept.  8 — Molino  del  Bey  stormed  and  taken  by  Gen.  Worth. 

u 13 — Chepultepec  (near  the  city  of  Mexico)  stormed  and  taken 
by  the  United  States  forces,  under  Gen.  Scott ; and  on  the 
14th  Sept,  he  took  the  city  of  Mexico.  This  ended  the  Mex- 
ican war. 

11  17. — Gen.  Scott  imposed  a contribution  of  $150,000  on  the  city 
of  Mexico  for  the  protection  the  United  States  army  had 
given  to  the  public  property. 

Dec.  31 — The  several  Mexican  States  were  assessed  $3,000,000  for 
the  support  of  the  American  army  while  it  held  the  country. 

1848. 

Feb.  2 — Treaty  of  peace  agreed  upon  between  the  United  States  and 
Mexico  at  Guadaloupe  Hidalgo,  (a  small  city  four  miles 
from  the  city  of  Mexico.)  By  this  treaty  Mexico  relin- 
quished all  claims  to  Texas,  and  ceded  Upper  California  and 
New  Mexico  to  the  United  States  ; in  consideration  of  which 
the  United  States  gave  Mexico  $15,000,000,  and  assumed 
Mexican  debts  owing  to  our  citizens  to  the  amount  of  $3,- 
500,000.-  This  treaty  was  subsequently  ratified  by  theU.  S. 
Senate,  (March  10,)  and  by  the  Mexican  government  on  the 
20th  May  following. 

March  31 — Congress  authorized  a loan  of  $16,000,000,  to  pay  Mexico. 

June  7 — Gen.  Zachary  Taylor  nominated  at  Philadelphia  by  a Whig 
convention,  for  President,  and  Millard  Fillmore  for  Vice 
President. 

11  22-23 — A convention  of  Democrats,  dissatisfied  with  the  nomina- 
tion of  Lewis  Cass  as  the  candidate  of  their  party  for  Presi- 
dent, met  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  nominated  Martin  Van  Bu- 
ren  for  that  office.  This  was  called  the  Free-Soil  party,  be- 
cause they  opposed  the  annexation  of  Texas. 

Aug.  14 — A Territorial  government  organized  for  Oregon. 

Nov.  — According  to  the  provisions  of  an  act  of  Congress  previ- 
ously passed,  all  the  States  voted  on  the  first  Tuesday  after 
the  first  Monday  of  this  month  for  President  and  Vice  Presi- 
dent. This  was  the  sixteenth  Presidential  election,  and 
resulted  in  the  choice  of  Gen.  Taylor,  the  Whig  candidate. 


4G8 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


1849. 

Jan.  26 — The  ratification  of  the  postal  treaty  with  England  exchan- 
ged at  London. 

March  3 — Congress  ordered  gold  dollars  and  double  eagles  to  be 
coined. 

A Territorial  government  organized  for  Minnesota 
1 1 4 — Gen.  Taylor,  the  eleventh  President,  inaugurated. 

May  7 — Gen.  Worth,  of  the  United  States  army,  died. 

Aug.  12 — Albert  Gallatin,  a distinguished  statesman,  and  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  under  President  Jefferson,  died,  aged  88. 

Sept.  — The  people  of  California  form  a constitution,  prohibiting 
slavery  in  the  State,  preparatory  to  admission  into  the 
Union. 

Dec.  31 — The  House  of  Representatives  on  the  sixty- third  ballot  elec- 
ted Howell  Cobb,  of  Georgia,  Speaker.  His  competitor  was 
R.  C.  Winthrop,  of  Mass. 

1850. 

Jan.  21 — The  chiefs  of  the  Seminole  Indians  (of  Florida)  met  Gen. 

Twiggs  in  council,  and  agreed  to  abandon  the  country  and 
move  to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi  river. 

Feb.  22 — The  original  manuscript  of  Washington's  farewell  address 
sold  in  Philadelphia  for  $2,300. 

July  9 — President  Taylor  died,  and  Vice  President  Fillmore  became 
acting  President. 

Aug.  3 — Jacob  Jones,  an  eminent  naval  officer,  died,  aged  82. 

Sept.  9 — California  admitted  into  the  Union,  making  the  thirty-first 
State. 

11  9 — Utah  placed  under  a Territorial  government. 

u 12 — The  fugitive  slave  law  passed.  This,  to  the  northern 
States,  was  probably  the  most  offensive  act  ever  passed  by 
Congress. 

“ 20 — The  slave  trade  abolished  in  the  District  of  Columbia  by  act 
of  Congress. 

The  above  last  four  acts  have  ever  since  their  passage  been 
known  as  the  u compromise  measures  of  1850.” 

Nov.  19 — Richard  M.  Johnson,  formerly  Vice  President,  died. 

1851. 

March  3 — By  act  of  Congress,  postage  was  reduced  to  three  cents  on 
all  letters  not  weighing  over  half  an  ounce,  and  for  all  dis- 
tances not  exceeding  3,000  miles,  if  pre-paid  ; but  to  five 
cents  if  not  pre-paid. 

— John  C.  Calhoun,  of  S.  Carolina,  an  eminent  statesman,  and 
once  Vice  President,  died. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


469 


1852. 

June  28— Henry  Clay  died. 

July  3 — A branch  'of*  theU.  S.  mint  established  at  San  Francisco, 
Cal.,  by  act  of  Congress. 

Oct.  24 — Daniel  Webster  died. 

Nov.  — In  this  month  the  seventeenthPresidential  election  took 

Elace,  which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Franklin  Pierce,  the 
democratic  candidate,  over  General  Scott,  the  Whig  can- 
didate. 

1853. 

March  2 — Washington  Territory  cut  off  from  the  northern  part  of 
Oregon,  and  put  under  a Territorial  government  by  act  of 
Congress. 

“ 4 — -Franklin  Pierce  inaugurated  the  twelfth  regular  President. 
Aug.  11 — President  Pierce  issued  a proclamation  warning  citizens  of 
the  U.  S.  against  connecting  themselves  with  Lopez  against 
the  island  of  Cuba. 

1854. 

March  23 — A treaty  of  commerce  with  Japan,  negotiated  by  Com. 
Perry,  of  the  United  States  navy. 

May  19 — John  Davis,  a Senator  from  Mass.,  an  eminent  orator  and 
statesman,  known  by  the  name  of  u Honest  John  Davis, ” 
died. 

“ 30 — The  Kansas  and  Nebraska  bill  passed  in  Congress.  By  this 
act  these  two  Territories  were  organized  under  Territorial 
governments,  and  in  the  14th  section,  the  far-famed  “ Mis- 
souri compromise”  act  of  1820  was  repealed,  after  it  had 
been  a law  of  the  land  for.  thirty-four  years.  This  opened 
the  old  slavery  discussion,  and  brought  on  the  civil  war  in 
Kansas. 

1855.. 

Feb.  24 — The  Court  of  Claims  established  in  Washington,  by  act  of 
Congress. 

1856. 

March  4 — The  free-State  Legislature  of  Kansas,  assembled  at  To- 
peka. 

“ 20 — Com.  Connor  died. 

May  18 — John  C.  Spencer,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  under  Tyler, 
died  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

u 31 — John  M.  Niles,  Postmaster  General  under  Yan  Buren, 
died.* 

Nov.  — In  this  month  the  eighteenth  Presidential  election  took 
place,  resulting  in  the  choice  of  James  Buchanan,  the  Dem- 
ocratic candidate,  against  John  C.  Fremont,  the  Repub- 
lican, and  Millard  Fillmore  the  American  candidates. 


470  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

1857. 

Feb.  2 — Nathaniel  Banks,  of  Mass.,  after  133  ballotings  (which  oc- 
cupied the  House  of  Representatives  from  the  3d  of  Decem- 
ber of  the  last  year  to  this  time),  was  elected  Speaker. 
March  4 — James  Buchanan  inaugurated  the  thirteenth  regular  Pre- 
sident. 

July  — Wm.  L.  Marcy,  Secretary  of  War  under  President  Polk, 
and  Secretary  of  State  under  President  Pierce,  died,  aged 

71. 


1858. 

May  11 — Minnesota  admitted  into  the  Union,  making  the  thirty- 
second  State. 

1859. 

Feb.  14 — Oregon  admitted  into  the  Union,  which  made  the  thirty- 
third  State. 


I860. 

Nov.  6 — The  nineteenth  Presidential  election  occurred,  and  Abraham 
Lincoln,  the  Republican  candidate,  was  elected,  against  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas,  John  C.  Breckenridge  and  John  Bell. 

Dec.  10 — Howell  Cobb,  U.  S.  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  resigned, 
and  President  Buchanan  appointed  P.  F.  Thomas,  of  Mary- 
land, in  his  place. 

“ 14 — Lewis  Cass,  United  States  Secretary  of  State,  resigned, 
when  the  President  nominated  Jeremiah  S.  Black,  of  Pa., 
in  his  place. 

“ 20 — South  Carolina  seceded  from  the  government  of  the  United 
States.  This  was  the  first  act  of  secession;  but  ten  more 
of  the  slave  States  soon  followed  her  example  in  the  early 
part  of  1861. 

“ 28 — The  United  States  arsenal,  post  office  and  custom  house  at 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  were  seized  by  the  authorities  of  that 
State. 

tc  — John  B.  Floyd,  Secretary  of  War,  resigned,  and  Joseph 
Holt,  of  Ky.,  was  appointed  in  his  place  the  next  day. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


471 


1861. 

We  now  come  to  the  period  when  the  great  civil  war  between  the 
Northern  and  Southern  States  began.  A number  of  events  had 
occurred  in  the  month  of  December,  in  1860,  which  foreshadowed  the 
coming  storm,  such  as  the  resignation  of  the  southern  members  of 
Mr.  Buchanan’s  cabinet,  and  of  southern  Senators  and  Members  of 
Congress,  with  the  seizure  of  property  belonging  to  the  United  States 
in  Charleston,  &c.  Yet,  hopes  were  still  entertained  of  a pacifica- 
tion, as  the  spirit  of  secession  had  not  showed  itself  in  much  strength 
outside  of  South  Carolina;  but  this  “smoking  flax”  burst  into  a 
consuming  flame  with  the  opening  of  this  year.  To  chronicle  all 
the  events  of  this  most  terrible  war,  during  the  four  following  years, 
would  require  a volume  of  the  size  of  this  to  contain  them  ; we  must 
therefore  only  notice  the  most  important  of  them,  and  many  of  these 
we  shall  so  condense  as  to  preserve  the  facts,  without  recording,  in 
every  case,  the  day  of  the  month  on  which  they  occurred. 

January — During  this  month,  "Fort  Macon,  at  Beaufort,  the  United 
States  works  at  Wilmington,  and  the  U.  S.  arsenal  at  Tay- 
lorsville, forts  Caswell  and  Johnson,  in  North  Carolina,  the 
forts  Pulaski  and  Jackson,  and  the  arsenal  at  Savannah  Geo., 
fort  Morgan  and  the  U.  S.  arsenal  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  forts  St. 
Philip  and  Jackson,  fort  Pike  and  the  U.  S.  arsenal  at 
Baton  Bouge,  in  Louisiana,  fort  Barancas  and  the  U.  Sr 
navy-yard,  Fla.,  the  U.  S.  arsenal  at 'Augusta,  Geo.,  the  U. 
S.  custom-house  and  mint  in  New  Orleans,  were  all  seized 
by  the  southerners  in  the  States  where  they  stood. 

And  in  this  month  Florida,  Georgia,  Louisiana  and  Missis- 
sippi, five  States,  all  passed  ordinances  of  secession,  and  the 
Members  of  Congress  from  Georgia,  Alabama  and  Missis- 
sippi withdrew  during  this  month. 

“ 29 — Kansas  admitted  into  the  Union — making  the  thirty- 
fourth  State. 

Feb.  1 — Texas  seceded  from  the  Union. 

“ 4 — A peace  convention,  with  delegates  from  eighteen  States,  as- 
semble at  Washington  ; and  on  the  same  day  a convention 
from  the  seceded  States  assembled  at  Montgomery  Ala.,  to 
organize  a confederate  government. 

11  5 — John  Slidell  and  Judah  P.  Benjamin,  U.  S.  Senators  from 
Louisiana,  withdrew  from  the  Senate. 

“ 9 — Jeff.  Davis  and  Alex.  Stephens  chosen  President  and  Vico 
President  of  the  Confederate  States  for  one  year. 


472  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Feb.  25 — About  this  time  Gen.  Twiggs,  in  command  of  the  TJ.  S. 

troops  in  Texas,  delivered  up  his  men  to  the  southerners  as 
prisoners  of  war. 

“ 28 — Colorado  organized  into  a Territorial  government. 

March  2 — Dakota  and  Nevada  organized  into  Territorial  govern- 
ments. 

“ 4 — Abraham  Lincoln  inaugurated  the  fourteenth  regular  Pre- 

sident of  the  United  States. 

u 5 — Gen.  Beauregard  takes  command  of  the  southern  forces  at 
Charleston. 

u 6 — The  Senate  of  the  confederate  States  confirm  Jeff  Davis’ 
nominations  of  the  members  of  his  cabinet,  viz. : for  Secre- 
tary of  State,  R.  Toombs,  of  Geo.  ; for  Secretary  of  Trea- 
sury, C.  S.  Meminger,  of  South  Carolina  ; for  Secretary  of 
War,  L.  P.  Walker,  of  Ala.  ; for  Secretary  of  Navy,  S.  R. 
Mallory,  of  Fla.  ; for  Postmaster,  J.  H.  Reagan,  of  Texas; 
for  Attorney  General,  J.  P.  Benjamin,  of  La. 

u 11 — The  Constitution  of  the  confederate  States  adopted  in  con- 
vention at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  which  was  ratified  afterwards 
by  the  several  confederate  States. 

April  11 — Gen.  Beauregard  demands  of  Major  Anderson  the  sur- 
render of  Fort  Sumter,  which  was  refused. 

“ 12 — Bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter.  This  was  the  real  com- 
mencement of  the  great  civil  war  between  the  North  and 
South, 

April  14 — Major  Anderson  and  his  men  leave  fort  Sumter. 

“ 15 — President  Lincoln  calls  for  75,000  men  to  defend  Wash 

ington. 

11  17 — Virginia  secedes,  and  the  Governor  recognizes  the  act  by 

proclamation. 

tl  18 — The  U.  S.  arsenal  at  Harper’s  Ferry  destroyed,  to  prevent 
its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  south. 

u 19 — A mob, .in  Baltimore,  attacked  the  Massachusetts  troops 

who  were  going  to  Washington,  in  obedience  to  the  Presi- 
dent’s call;  and  the  mayor  of  Baltimore  notified  the  Presi- 
dent that  no  more  troops  should  pass  through  that  city. 

u 19 — The  President,  by  proclamation,  declares  the  ports  of  the 
seceded  States  blockaded. 

“ 20 — The  U.  S.  mint  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  seized,  and  on  the 

same  day  the  railroads  in  Maryland  were  destroyed  and 
bridges  burnt.  On  the  same  day  the  U.  S.  navy  yard  at 
Gosport*  Va.,  was  destroyed  by  the  men  having  it  in  charge, 
to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  south.  Property 
lost  worth  $25,000,000. 

li  26 — Gov.  Brown,  of  Georgia,  forbids  the  citizens  of  that  State 
from  paying  their  debts  due  to  the  people  of  the  north. 

May  8 — President  Lincoln  calls  for  82,714  additional. troops. 

a 6 — Virginia  admitted  as  one  of  the  confederate  States,  and  the 
State  of  Tennessee  passed  an  ordinance  of  secession. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


473 


May  10 — Gen.  R.  E.  Lee  took  command  of  the  southern  troops  in  Ya. 

“ 15 — The  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  offer  to  loan  the  U.  S.  gov- 
ernment $7,000,000  to  carry  on  the  war. 

“ 21 — North  Carolina  secedes  from  the  United  States. 

“ 21 — The  southerners  blockade  the  Mississippi  river  at  Memphis. 

“ 24 — Col.  Ellsworth  shot. 

“ 27 — 100  slaves  took  refuge  in  fortress  Monroe,  and  Gen.  Butler 
declared  them  £ 4 contraband  ” of  war. 

u 27 — Mobile  blockaded  ; Savannah  ditto,  on  the  next  day,  by  the 
U.  S.  blockading  squadron. 

11  31 — A fight  of  two  hours  between  the  Union  gunboats  at  Aequia 
Creek  and  the  batteries  at  that  place. 

June  2 — Battle  of  Philippi,  Ya.  Union  troops  victorious. 

“ 3 — U.  S.  Senator  Douglas,  of'  Illinois,  died. 

u 10 — Battle  of  Big  Bethel,  Ya.  Union  troops  repulsed. 

u — T}ie  southern  forces  evacuate  and  burn  Harper’s  Ferry, 

when  the  Union  forces  occupy  the  place. 

11  17 — A convention  of  Union  men  vote  the  independence  of  West 
Virginia — in  other  words,  that  part  of  Virginia  seceded  from 
old  Virginia. 

“ 18 — Battle  of  Booneville,  Mo.  Gen.  Price  routed  by  the  Union- 
ists under  Gen.  Lyon. 

“ 23 — Forty-eight  locomotives  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  R.  R. 
destroyed  by  the  southern  forces. 

“ 26 — President  Lincoln  recognizes  the  Wheeling  government  as 
the  government  of  Virginia. 

July  2 — Battle  near  Martinsburgh,  Va.  Patterson,  Union,  defeated 
by  Gen.  Jackson. 

“ 5 — Congress  assembled,  and  the  President  called  for  400,000 
men,  and  $400,000,000  to  put  down  the  insurrection. 

il  5 — Battle  at  Carthage,  Mo.  Gen.  Siegel  commanded  the  Union 
and  Gen.  J ackson  the  southern  forces. 

“ 11 — Battle  at  Rich  Mountain,  Va.  Union  Gen.  Rosecrans  de- 
feated Gen.  Pegram. 

11  11 — U.  S.  Senate  expelled  nine  Senators  from  the  southern  States 
for  treason. 

“ 13 — Battle  of  Carrickford,  Va.  Union  Gen.  Morris  opposing 
Garnett,  who  was  killed. 

11  21 — Battle  of  Bull  Run.  Union  Gen.  McDowell  against  Beau- 
regard. Union  troops  defeated  after  ten  hours’  fighting,  yet 
the  south  lost  the  most  men. 

11  25 — Gen.  Geo.  B.  McClellan  took  command  of  the  army  of  the 
Potomac. 

Aug.  2 — Congress  passed  an  act  for  raising  500,000  men,  and  $500,- 
000,000  by  tax  and  tariff1. 

“ 7 — -The  village  of  Hampton,  Va.,  burnt,  to  prevent  its  falling 

into  the  hands  of  the  Unionists. 

“ 10 — Battle  of  Wilson’s  Creek.  Union  Gen.  Lyon  killed  ; 263 
troops  killed,  and  421  of  the  enemy.  Battle  lasted  six  hours. 


474  OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Aug.  15 — Jeff.  Davis  ordered  all  northern  men  to  quit  the  con- 
federate States  in  forty  days. 

u 16 — President  Lincoln,  by  proclamation,  declared  all  commer- 
cial intercourse  with  seceded  States  at  an  end. 

“ 23 — The  Cherokee  Indians  join  the  south. 

“ 28 — Bombardment  and  capture  of  forts  Hatteras  and  Clark, 
N.  C.,  by  the  combined  action  of  the  army,  under  Gen.  But- 
ler, and  the  navy,  under  Com.  Stringham. 

<<  81 — Gen.  Premont  issued  a proclamation  confiscating  the  prop- 
erty of  disloyalists  in  Missouri,  and  also  freeing  the  slaves. 
This  was  Countermanded  by  the  President. 

Sept.  1 — the  village  of  Boom  Court  House,  Va.,  burnt. 

u 12 — Col.  John  A.  Washington,  of  the  Southern  army,  killed 
while  reconnoitering. 

11  12 — Battle  of  Cheat  Mountain,  Ya.  Unionists  victorious. 

11  18 — Some  of  the  members  of  the  Legislature  of  Maryland  ar- 
rested and  imprisoned  for  talking  treason. 

Oct.  3 — Battle  of  Greenbrier,  Ya.  Unionists  victorious. 

“ 16 — The  U.  S.  troops  re-capture  Lexington,  Mo. 

11  16 — Battle  of  Pilot  Knob,  Mo.  Unionists  victorious. 

“ 21 — Battle  of  Ball’s  Bluff — which  was  a severe  fight — the  Un- 
ionists defeated ; Col.  Baker  killed,  with  918  men  killed  or 
wounded. 

* 29 — The  great  naval  and  military  force,  consisting  of  75  vessels, 
(of  all  sorts,)  and  27,000  men,  sailed  from  Hampton  Roads, 
Va.,  and  bound  south,  under  command  of  Com.  DuPont, 
and  Gen.  T.  W.  Sherman. 

Kov.  1 — Gen.  Scott  retired  from  the  command  of  the  army,  with  full 
pay  ; and  Gen.  McClellan  took  his  place. 

11  1 — Confederate  Gen.  Ployd  tried  to  capture  Gen.  Rosecrans  and 

his  army  at  Gauley,  Ya.,  but  failed. 

11  4 — Houston,  Mo.,  taken  by  the  Union  troops,  who  captured  a 

large  amount  of  property. 

u 4 — A part  of  the  great  naval  expedition  arrived  at  Port  Royal, 
South  Carolina. 

11  7 — A great  naval  battle  at  Hilton  Head,  S.  C.,  when  forts  Beau- 

regard and  Walker  were  captured. 

“ 8 — Battle  of  Belmont,  Mo.  Great  slaughter  on  both  sides. 

“ 8 — Mason  & Slidell,  commissioners  to  Europe,  were  taken  from 

the  British  steamer  Trent  by  the  U.  S.  ship  San  Jacinto,  but 
on  the  demand  of  the  English  government  they  were  given 
up  to  her. 

“ 10 — The  village  of  Guyandotte,  Ya.,  burnt  by  Union  soldiers, 
because  some  of  them  had  been  murdered  by  the  inhab- 
itants. 

il  20 — Thirty  old  whale  ships,  loaded  with  stone,  sailed  from  New 
London  and  Hew  Bedford,  to  be  sunk  in  the  channels  of 
some  of  the  southern  sea  ports.  This  was  accomplished. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


475 


Dec.  3-4 — Congressmen  Bennett,  of  Ky.,  Reed,  of  Mo.,  and  John 
C.  Breckenridge,  U.  S.  Senator  from  Ky.,  were  expelled  from 
Congress  for  treason. 

“ 5 — At  this  time  there  were,  as  shown  by  the  reports  of  the  Sec- 

retaries of  War  and  of  the  Navy,  nearly  700,000  men  in  the 
army  and  navy  of  the  TJ.  States. 

“ 16 — Platte  City,  Mo.,  burnt  by  the  southern  forces. 

“ 17 — More  than  twenty  stone  vessels  sunk  in  the  channels  to  the 
harbors  of  Charleston  and  Savannah. 

“ 31 — At  the  close  of  this  year  there  were  246  vessels  (of  all  kinds) 
in  the  United  States  navy,  carrying  22,000  men  and  nearly 
2,000  guns. 

1862. 

Jan.  2 — Battle  on  Port  Royal  Island,  S.  C.  The  southern  forces 
driven  from  the  island. 

“ 10 — A fight  near  Prestonburgh,  Ky.,  between  Union  Gen.  Gar- 
field, and  Gen.  Humphrey  Marshall’s  forces.  Marshall  de- 
feated. 

11  10 — Senators  Johnson  and  Polk,  of  Mo.,  expelled  from  the  U.  S. 
Senate  as  traitors. 

11  12 — 125  vessels,  with  15,000  troops,  left  Portress  Monroe  for  the 
south,  under  Com.  Goldsborough  and  Gen.  Burnside. 

“ 13 — Simon  Cameron,  Secretary  of  War,  resigned,  and  Edwin 
M.  Stanton,  of  Pa.,  appointed  in  his  place. 

“ 18 — John  Tyler,  of  Va.,  and  once  acting  President,  died. 

sl  19 — Battle  of  Mill  Spring,  Ky.  Union  forces  under  Gen.  Thom- 
as completely  victorious  over  Gens.  Crittenden  and  Zollicof- 
fer — the  latter  was  killed.  Unionists  make  a great  haul  of 
provisions  and  arms. 

“ 27 — Bishop  Ames,  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  Gov.  Fish,  of 
New  York,  appointed  to  visit  prisoners  at  Richmond  and 
other  places,  hut  the  southern  authorities  would  not  allow 
them  to  enter  their  lines. 

Feb.  4 — Congress  enact  that  the  names  of  every  person  who  had  ta- 
ken up  arms  against  the  United  States  should  be  struck  from 
the  pension  rolls. 

11  5 — Jesse  D.  Bright,  of  Indiana,  expelled  from  the  U.  S.  Senate 

for  his  secession  sentiments. 

“ 6 — The  western  gun-boats  capture  Fort  Henry,  on  the  Tennes- 

see river,  under  Com.  Foote.  The  southern  Gen.  Tilghman 
taken  prisoner. 

((  8 — Great  battle  on  Roanoke  Island,  which,  with  all  its  fortifica- 

tions and  guns,  were  captured,  together  with  over  2,500  pris- 
oners. Gen.  Burnside  commanded  the  Union  forces. 

il  10 — Naval  battle  between  gun-boats,  off  Elizabeth  City,  N.  C. 
All  but  one  of  the  enemy’s  boats  captured. 

“ 12 — Gen.  Grant,  with  40,000  trooops,  invests  Fort  Donnelson,  on 


476 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


the  Cumberland  river,  where  there  were  18,000  troops  under 
Genls.  Floyd,  Pillow  and  Buckner.  The  fighting  continued 
during  the  18th,  14th,  15th  and  16th,  when  the  fort  surren- 
dered to  the  Union  forces,  with  13,300  prisoners  of  war* 
3,000  horses,  48  guns,  and  20,000  small  arms. 

Feb.  13 — Congress  authorize  the  construction  of  twenty  iron  clad 
gunboats. 

a 18 — -The  southern  Congress  assembled  at  Richmond,  Ya. 

u 19 — Jeff  Davis  and  Alexander  H.  Stephens  were  unanimously 
elected  President  and  Vice  President  of  the  Confederate 
States  for  six  years. 

11  23 — Nashville  occupied  by  Union  forces. 

a 25 — Congress  authorize  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  to  issue 
$150,000,000  of  United  States  notes,  (greenbacks)  and  make 
them  a legal  tender. 

Mar.  2 — A battle  between  the  Union  gunboats  and  the  batteries  at 
Pittsburg  Landing,  Tenn.  The  southern  forces  repulsed 
with  great  slaughter. 

a 3 — Gen.  Beauregard  took  command  of  the  southern  army  in 
Mississippi. 

u 4 — Congress  fix  the  number  of  Representatives  in  Congress  at 
241 — based  on  the  census  of  1860. 

cc  6-8 — Battle  of  Pea  Ridge.  Union  Gen.  Curtis,  with  22,000 
men,  against  Benj.  McCullough  with  35,000  men — McC. 
was  killed.  This  battle  lasted  three  days. 

u 8-9 — The  Southern  steamer  Merrimac,  or  Virginia,  with 
four  gunboats,  attack  the  U.  States  ships  lying  at  Hampton 
Roads,  and  burnt  and  sunk  several  of  them,  when  the  U.  S. 
Monitor  came  into  the  fight  and  very  soon  disabled  the 
Merrimac.  This  was  the  first  trial  of  iron  clads. 

11  14 — Battle  of  Newbern,  N.  C. ; where  the  Unionists  found  an 
immense  amount  of  stores  and  ammunition. 

u 23 — Battle  of  Winchester,  Ya.  The  southern  forces  defeated 
with  great  loss. 

April  6-7 — Battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  or  Shiloh,  on  the  Tennes- 
see river  ; the  Unionists  victorious — -Southern  Gen.  A.  S. 
Johnson,  killed,  and  3,000  of  his  men.  This  was  one  of  the 
most  terrible  battles  during  the  civil  war,  and  would  hnv8 
been  lost  but  for  the  aid  of  the  gunboats.  Gen.  Grant  comman- 
ded the  Union  forces,  and  Gen.  Beauregard  the  enemy.  100,- 
000  men  were  in  the  battle,  and  20,000  were  killed,  wounded 
or  missing. 

u 11 — Fort  Pulaski  bombarded  thirty-six  hours,  and  taken  by 
Gen.  Hunter. 

11  16 — Slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia  abolished  by  act  of 

Congress. 

11  18 — The  Union  fleet  of  51  vessels,  under  Com.  Farragut  and 
Porter,  ascend  the  Mississippi  river  and  bombard  forts 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


477 


Jackson  and  St.  Philip  six  days,  and  ran  past  them  on  their 
way  to  New  Orleans,  where  they  arrived  on  the  25th,  when 
Com.  Farragut  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  city,  which 
was  done. 

April  21 — A branch  mint  established  at  Denver,  in  Colorado,  by  act 
of  Congress. 

May  1 — 251  Union  cavalry  captured  at  Pulaski,  Tenn. 

“ 4 — Yorktown,  Va.,  evacuated  by  the  enemy,  and  occupied  by 

the  Union  forces. 

“ 5 — Battle  of  Williamsburgh,  Va.  lasting  all  day.  Unionists  vie- 

torious. 

il  10 — Norfolk,  Va.,  surrendered  to  the  Union  troops. 

11  11 — The  southerners  burn  their  ship  Merrimac. 

“ 11 — The  southern  forces  evacuate  Pensacola,  Fla,  and  burn  the 
public  buildings  and  navy  yard. 

May  15 — The  Agricultural  Department  created  by  act  of  Congress. 

“ 24 — Battle  at  Bottom’s  Bridge,  over  the  Chickahominy  river, 
a Union  victory. 

u 30 — The  Union  forces  occupy  Corinth,  Miss.,  and  2,000  prison- 
ers taken. 

“ 31 — Battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  Va.  After  long  and  hard  fighting  the 
Union  troops  retreated. 

June  1 — Battle  of  Fair  Oaks  re-commenced — the  Southerners  driven 
back.  Union  loss  4,739  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners  ; the 
enemy  nearly  6,000. 

lt  6 — Cun-boat  fight  at  Memphis,  on  the  Mississippi  river.  Mem- 
phis surrendered,  and  nearly  all  the  enemy’s  boats  were  de- 
stroyed or  captured. 

il  8 — Battle  of  Cross  Keys,  Va.  Union  loss  581  killed  and 
wounded — southern,  about  1,000. 

11  14 — Battle  on  James  Island,  S.  C.,  near  Charleston — Unionists 
defeated. 

a 17 — 125  Union  men  killed  and  wounded  by  the  explosion  of  the 
gun-boat  Mound  City,  on  the  White  River,  Ark.,  while 
in  a fight. 

li  19 — Congress  pass  an  act  prohibiting  slavery  in  any  of  the  Ter- 
ritories of  the  United  States. 

“ 25 — Battle  of  Fair  Oaks.  Southerners  repulsed. 

11  26 — Battle  near  Mechanicsville,  Va.  The  southern  forces  60,- 
000  strong,  under  Jackson.  Union  troops  driven  back  to 
Gaines’  Mill,  where  the  loss  was  heavy  on  both  sides.  This 
battle  was  renewed  the  next  day,  and  lasted  all  day. 

“ 27 — Bombardment  of  Vicksburgh  by  Union  gun-boats. 

“ 30 — Battles  of  White  Oak  Swamp,  and  Charles  City  Cross 
Roads,  Va.  Loss  heavy  on  both  sides. 

July  1 — The  internal  revenue  bill  passed. 

“ 1 — Congress  pass  an  act  prohibiting  polygamy  in  any  part  of 
the  United  States — (a  hit  at  the  Mormons.) 

u 1 — The  Union  Pacific  Railroad  chartered  by  Congress. 


478  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

July  1 — Battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  Va.  Union  victory.  With  this 
battle  ended  the  seven  days’  fighting  near  Richmond,  which 
cost  the  Union  army  over  15,000  men  in  killed,  wounded 
and  missing. 

u 1 — President  Lincoln  called  for  600,000  volunteers,  for  a more 
vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war. 

u 2 — Congress  pass  an  act  in  which  a new  oath  of  office  is  pre- 
scribed, much  more  comprehensive  than  any  former  oath, 
which  has  been  called  “the  Iron-clad  oath.” 

iL  7 — Gen.  Curtis’  army  encountered  1,500  southern  troops  at 
Bayou  de  Cache,  Ark.,  when  a severe  fight  ensued  of  two 
hours’  length — the  enemy  routed,  leaving  over  100  dead  on 
the  field. 

“ 11 — Gen.  H.  W.  Halleck  made  commander-in-chief  of  the  army 
of  the  United  States. 

u 12 — The  southern  forces,  with  4,000  cavalry,  capture  Murfrees- 
borough,  Tenn.,  after  a severe  fight,  with  about  an  equal 
loss  on  both  sides. 

Aug.  4 — The  President  ordered  a draft  of  300,000  men  to  serve  in 
the  army  nine  months. 

11  5 — Battle  of  Baton  Rouge,  where  Gen.  Breckenridge,  with 
6,000  troops,  attacked  the  Unionists  under  Gen.  Williams, 
who,  after  a bloody  fight,  forced  the  enemy  to  retreat. 

11  5 — The  United  States  gunboat  Essex  attacked  the  steamer  Ar- 
kansas, a little  below  Baton  Rouge  ; fired  red  hot  shot  into 
her,  and  blew  her  up. 

“ 5 — Gen.  Robert  McCook  assassinated  while  sick. 

“ 9 — Battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  Ya.  Union  troops  under  Gen. 

Banks  ; enemy  under  Gen.  Jackson.  After  a three  hours’ 
fight,  both  parties  retired. 

u 16 — Gen.  McClellan  leaves  Harrison’s  Landing  on  the  James 
river. 

il  21 — Gen.  Siegel  opened  his  masked  batteries  on  five  regiments 
of  southern  troops,  who  had  just  crossed  the  Rappahan- 
nock river,  slaughtered  700  of  them,  and  took  2,000  pris- 
oners. 

a 26 — A Union  naval  expedition  went  up  the  Yazoo  river,  Miss., 
capturing  everything  in  its  way. 

u 28 — Battle  at  Centreville,  Ya.,  under  Union  Gens.  Siegel  and 
McDowell;  Gen.  Jackson  was  defeated. 

tl  29— Battle  of  Groveton,  near  Bull  Run,  Ya.  Unionists  under 
Gen.  Pope.  The  battle  lasted  all  day,  when  the  enemy  re- 
treated. Col.  Fletcher  Webster  was  killed  here.  The  fight 
was  renewed  the  next  day,  and  with  great  loss,  when  Pope 
retreated. 

11  80 — Battle  near  Richmond,  Ky.  Unionists,  under  Gen.  Nelson, 
defeated  with  great  loss. 

u 3i — Battle  of  Weldon,  Ya.  The  southerners  badly  beaten. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


479 


Sept.  1 — On  this  day  three  battles  were  fought.  1.  At  Chantilly, 
two  miles  from  Fairfax  Court  House,  Va.,  in  which  two 
Union  generals  were  killed,  to  wit : Kearney  and  I.  J.  Ste- 
vens ; their  loss  in  men  was  also  large.  2.  At  Britton’s 
Lane,  Tenn.,  lasting  four  hours — enemy  fled.  3.  At  Jack- 
son,  Tenn.,  where  the  southerners  left  110  dead  on  the 
field. 

<l  5 — The  southern  army  ford  the  Potomac  river  and  cross  into 
Maryland,  and  on  the  6th  they  occupy  Frederick  City,  in 
that  State. 

11  6 — 1,200  troops  attack  the  Union  garrison  at  Washington,  FT. 

C.,  but  were  repulsed. 

“ 8 — Gen.  Lee  issued  a proclamation  to  the  people  of  Maryland. 

11  9 — On  this  day  these  three  events  happened — 1.  Col.  Grierson  at- 

tacked the  southerners  at  Coldwater,  Miss.,  and  drove  them 
hack.  2.  They  attack  the  Union  forces  at  Williamsburgh,  Va., 
where  they  were  repulsed.  3.  Fredericksburgh,  Va.,  was 
evacuated  by  the  southern  forces. 

11  10 — Gov.  Curtin,  of  Pa.,  (expecting  an  invasion  of  the  State,) 
called  on  all  the  able  bodied  men  to  organize  for  defence. 

11  10 — In  Cincinnati,  O.,  so  great  were  the  fears  of  an  attack,  that 
3,000  laborers  were  put  into  the  trenches  to  fortify  the  city. 

11  11 — The  Union  forces  at  Ganby,  Ya.,  burn  all  the  government 
property  and  abandon  the  place.  On  the  same  day,  May- 
ville,  Ky.,  and  Bloomfield,  Mo.,  were  taken  by  the  southern 
forces. 

il  12 — Fight  on  Elk  river,  Ya.,  near  Gauley,  which  lasted  all 
day.  On  the  same  day  Charleston  was  bombarded  and 
burnt. 

u 13 — The  southerners  opened  fire  on  Harper’s  Ferry,  when  an 
artillery  duel  was  fought  all  day. 

u 14 — Battle  of  South  Mountain,  Md.  Unionists,  under  Mc- 
Clellan, attack ; the  battle  lasted  all  day,  when  the  enemy 
fled  in  the  night.  Here  Gen.  Eeno  was  killed,  with  about 
350  men. 

u 15 — Harper’s  Ferry  surrendered  to  the  southern  forces,  who 
took  11,500  prisoners  and  sixty  cannon. 

* 16-17 — Battle  of  Antietam,  Md. — 100,000  men  on  each  side. 
This  was  one  of  the  bloodiest  battles  of  the  war.  Union 
Generals  Hooker,  Porter,  Burnside  and  McClellan,  op- 
posed Generals  Lee,  Hill,  Jackson  and  Longstreet.  Union 
loss  over  12,000,  enemy  about  25,000. 

11  20 — Battle  of  Iuka,  Miss.  Enemy  defeated  with  a loss  of  over 

14,000.  Union  loss  over  700. 

“ 22 — President  Lincoln’s  proclamation,  declaring  all  the  slaves 
free  in  the  rebel  States,  in  case  they  continued  the  war  100 
days  longer. 

il  23 — About  this  time  the  Sioux  Indians  in  Minnesota  became 
very  troublesome,  and  many  of  them  were  killed. 

31 


480  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Sept.  27 — The  Union  garrison  at  Augusta,  Ky.,  surrendered  to  600 
cavalry,  after  90  of  them  were  killed. 

Oct.  4 — Battle  of  Corinth,  Miss.  Union  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and 
missing,  2,300 — enemy  over  9,000,  including  prisoners. 

u 8-9 — Battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.  Gen.  Rousseau  commanded  th<3 
Union  forces — Bragg,  Buckner  and  Cheatham  the  enemy, 
who  were  routed  with  a loss  of  600  killed — Union  468. 

“ 10-11 — Southern  cavalry  reach  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  capture 
500  horses,  a quantity  of  government  stores,  and  fled  back 
to  Virginia. 

u 14 — A donation  of  $100,000  was  sent  from  San  Prancisco  for 
the  Sanitary  Commission. 

44  15 — A hard  battle  was  fought  near  Richmond,  Ky.,  between 
45,000  southern  troops,  and-  18,000  Union  forces,  who  lost 
2,900  men — southern  loss  3,300. 

iL  22 — Battle  of  May.sville,  Ark.  5,000  southern  troops  routed. 

“ 24 — The  English  steamer  Scotia,  loaded  with  arms  and  powder 
for  the  enemy,  captured  on  the  coast  of  South  Carolina. 

“ 30 — Gen.  Mitchell,  (the  astronomer),  in  command  of  the  south- 
ern division  of  the  U.  S.  army,  died  at  Beaufort,  S.  C. 

Nov,  5 — The  southern  troops  attacked  Nashville,  Tenn.,  but  were 
repulsed. 

11  25 — Southern  troops  attacked  Newbern,  North  Carolina,  but 
left  soon. 

14  28 — Battle  of  Cane  Hill,  Ark.,  when  5,000  Union  soldiers,  under 
Gen.  Blunt,  drove,  the  southern  troops,  under  Gen.  Marma- 
duke,  twelve  miles,  in  a running  fight. 

Dec.  5 — Battle  of  Cofieeville,  Miss.,  of  two  hours  duration.  South- 
ern loss  heavy — Union,  light. 

44  7 — Battle  of  Prairie  Grove,  Ark.  Union  loss  1,000  in  killed 
and  wounded. 

11  8— Steamer  Lake  City  destroyed  by  the  southerners. 

44  9 — Concordia,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  burnt  by  the  Unionists. 

44  10 — Port  Royal  was  bombarded  by  the  Unionists. 

44  11 — Fredericksburg  shelled. 

44  13 — Battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  where  Generals  Taylor, 
Bayard,  and  Jackson,  of  the  Union  army,  and  Gregg  and 
Cobb,  of  the  southern,  were  killed. 

44  14 — Battle  of  Kingston,  N.  C.,  where  the  Union  men  killed  and 
wounded  several  hundred,  and  took  400  prisoners  and  a 
quantity  of  arms. 

44  16 — Fredericksburg  evacuated  by  the  Union  army — which  was 
equal  to  a defeat  at  the  battle  there  on  the  13th. 

44  17 — Baton  Rouge,  the  capital  of  Louisiana,  captured  by  General 
Banks’  troops. 

41  19 — The  southern  forces  re-took  Holly  Springs,  Miss.  ; 200 
Unionists  killed  and  wounded,  and  half  a million  of  dollars 
in  property  destroyed,  with  4,000  bales  of  cotton. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  481 

Dec.  26 — Thirty-eight  Indians  hung  in  Minnesota,  for  murdering  the 
whites. 

« 27 — Vicksburg,  Miss.,  attacked  by  the  Union  troops  on  land, 
and  by  the  gunboats  on  the  river,  hut  on  the  29th  had  to 
fall  back. 

n 31 — The  famous  iron  Monitor,  which  whipped  the  Merrimac, 
was  sunk  at  sea  in  a storm. 

iJ  31 — A severe  fight  at  Murfreesboro’,  Tenn.;  Unionists  driven 
hack.  This  battle  was  renewed  the  next  morning,  and  con- 
tinued four  days,  when  the  enemy  retreated.  Union  loss  in 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  over  11,000;  the  enemy’s 
much  less. 

1863. 

Jan.  1 — Battle  of  Galveston  between  United  States  blockading 
squadron  and  the  batteries.  Here  the  U.  S.  steamer  Harriet 
Lane  was  captured,  and  the  steamer  Westfield  was  blown 
• up  by  her  commander,  and  all  hands  on  board  were  lost. 

« 1 — Gen.  Sullivan,  with  60,000  men,  attacked  the  southern 

forces  under  Gen.  Forrest,  near  Lexington,  Tenn.  This 
battle  lasted  all  day,  with  great  loss  on  both  sides.  Enemy 
defeated. 

««  1 — President  Lincoln  issued  his  proclamation  liberating  the 
slaves  in  all  the  seceded  States. 

1 — Battle  of  Stone  River,  for  ten  hours  without  any  result. 

il  9 — Twenty  thousand  prisoners  exchanged. 

44  11 — On  this  and  the  day  previous  there  was  hard  fighting  at 
forts  Hindman  and  Arkansas  Post.  Union  loss  about  1,000. 
Southern  prisoners  nearly  8,000. 

“ 11 — Union  gunboat  Hatteras  sunk  by  the  steamer  Alabama. 

a l3__The  southern  steamer  Oreto,  afterwards  called  Florida, 
escapes  from  Mobile. 

u 17 — By  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  $100,000,000  U.  S.  notes 
were  issued  to  pay  off  the  soldiers. 

a 21 — Engagement  on  the  coast  of  Texas,  when  two  U.  S.  ves- 
sels were  captured. 

“ 22 — Gen.  Fitz  John  Porter  dismissed  from  the  U.  S.  service. 

u 25 — First  regiment  of  negro  soldiers  organized  at  Port  Royal, 
S.  C. 

“ 26 — Gen.  Hooker  succeeds  Gen.  Burnside  in  the  command  of 
the  army  of  the  Potomac. 

“ 26 — The  barque  Golden  Rule  burnt,  and  the  ship  Washington 
captured  by  the  southern  steamer  Alabama. 

Feb.  3-5 — The  southern  forces  attack  Fort  Donelson  on  both  these 
days,  but  were  repulsed. 

u 5 — The  Union  ram  Queen  of  the  West,  destroys  three  trans- 
ports loaded  with  supplies,  on  the  Red  River. 

u 9 — Gen.  Hunter  (in  S.  C.)  conscripts  all  able-bodied  negroes 
in  his  department. 


482  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Feb.  12 — The  ship  Jacob  Bell  captured  and  burned  by  the  Florida. 
Her  cargo  was  worth  $1,000,000. 

11  21 — Ships  Golden  Eagle  and  Olive  Jane,  burnt  by  the  Alabama, 
on  the  coast  of  Africa. 

“ 24 — Territorial  government  for  Arizona  created  by  act  of  Con- 
gress. 

u 24 — Union  gunboat  Indianola  taken  by  four  steamers. 

u 25 — Cavalry  fight  at  Strasburg,  Va.  Union  loss  200  in  killed 
and  prisoners. 

“ 25 — An  act  to  prevent  correspondence  with  the  enemy,  under  a 
penalty  of  $10,000,  passed  and  approved. 

11  25 — The  bureau  of  currency  created  in  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment, the  head  of  which  is  the  comptroller  of  the  currency, 
who  is  appointed  for  five  years  by  the  President,  upon  the 
nomination  of  the  Sec.  of  the  Treasury.  This  act  also  pro- 
vides for  a national  currency,  secured  by  a pledge  of  U.  S. 
stocks.  Under  this  act  our  present  national  banks  were  or- 
ganized. 

“ 26 — The  Cherokee  council  repeal  their  act  of  secession,  and 
abolish  slavery. 

u 28 — The  iron  clad  Nashville,  which  laid  in  the  Ogeechee  river, 
Geo.,  destroyed  by  the  Union  gunboat  Montauk, 

March  1 — The  third  fruitless  attack  upon  fort  McAllister,  Geo.,  by 
the  Union  gunboats. 

u 2 — By  act  of  Congress  the  number  of  generals  in  the  service 

of  the  United  States  (of  all  grades)  were  increased  from  253 
to  358. 

u S — Act  of  Congress  approved  authorizing  the  Secretary  of  the 

Treasury  to  borrow  $900,000,000  on  the  credit  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  and  to  issue  $50,000,000  in  fractional  currency. 
This  loan  was  issued  in  what  is  called  10.40  bonds,  because 
they  had  from  ten  to  forty  years  to  run. 

u 3 — Congress  authorize  the  President  to  suspend  the  privilege 

of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  during  the  rebellion. 

3 — The  office  of  Assistant  Treasurer  created  by  act  of  Congress. 

“ 3 — An  act  to  establish  a branch  mint  at  Carson  City,  Nevada, 

approved. 

a 3 — An  act  forming  a Territorial  government  for  Idaho,  ap- 

proved. 

a 3 — The  gunboat  Indianola  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  and  the 

gunboat  Geo.  Washington  was  blown  up  in  Broad  river. 

u 3 — The  President  authorized  to  issue  letters  of  marque  and  re- 

prisal to  privateers  for  three  years. 

“ 5 — Gen.  Yan  Dorn  attacks  the  Union  troops  at  Springfield, 

Tenn.,  routed  them,  and  captured  many  prisoners. 

it  6 — Franklin,  Tenn.,  taken  by  the  southern  forces,  who  killed 

300  and  took  1,000  prisoners. 

“ 10 — Jacksonville,  Fla.,  taken  by  U.  S.  negro  troops. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


483 


Mch.  13 — Battle  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tallahatchie  river  between  the 
gunboat  Ch»illicothe  and  fort  Pemberton,  which  was  silenced 

u 14^-The  U.  S.  fleet  bombarded  fort  Hudson,  La.  In  the  at- 
tempt to  pass  the  batteries,  the  flag  ship  Mississippi  was  dis- 
abled, and  burnt  by  order  of  Com.  Farragut. 

“ 17 — Averill’s  cavalry  (Union)  reached  Kelly’s  Ford,  where 

they  attacked  the  enemy,  under  Stuart  and  Fitzhugh  Lee. 
The  battle  lasted  five  hours,  when  the  enemy  fell  hack. 
This  battle  was  one  of  the  most  gallant  cavalry  fights  of  the 
whole  war. 

« 19 — The  English  steamer  Georgiana,  with  arms  for  the  south, 

destroyed  off  Charleston,  S.  C. 

“ 25 — Two  Union  rams  destroyed  in  attempting  to  pass  the  bat- 

teries at  Yicksburgh. 

April  1 — Admiral  Farragut’s  fleet  pass  all  the  batteries  at  Grand 
Gulf. 

il  6 — To  show  the  effects  of  the  war  on  the  south,  we  quote  the 
prices  of  several  articles  at  Richmond,  Ya.  At  this  date, 
butter  $3  per  fb.  ; hams  $1.45  per  lb.  ; brandy  $24  per  gal.  ; 
corn $7. 50  per  bushel;  candles  $3  per  lb. ; coffee  $4. 50 .per  lb. 

“ 7 — A number  of  ironclads  attack  fort  Sumter,  in  Charleston 

harbor,  but  they  were  badly  punished,  and  left.  Here  the 
Union  monitor  Keokuk  sunk  two  days  after,  from  damages 
received. 

u The  ship  Morning  Star  captured  by  the  steamer  Alabama. 

“ 8 — Two  Union  steamboats  on  the  Cumberland  river  captured 

and  burnt. 

11  8 — Admiral  Farragut  captures  the  steamer  J.  D.  Clark. 

u 12 — Battle  at  Teche,  La.,  Unionist  under  Gen  Banks.  Another 
fight  occurred  on  the  14th,  between  the  same  parties,  when 
the  enemy  ran  and  lost  three  of  their  gunboats. 

11  16 — Porter’s  fleet  of  six  gunboats  and  a number  of  transports, 
ran  by  all  the  batteries  at  Yicksburgh. 

“ 20 — President  Lincoln  issued  a proclamation  that  West  Yirginia 
had  complied  with  the  act  of  Congress,  imposing  a certain 
condition  of  admission  as  a separate  State  ; gave  notice  that 
in  sixty  days  from  this  date  she  would  come  into  the 
Union. 

“ 23 — Gen.  Hunter  gives  Jeff.  Davis  notice  that  he  will  retaliate  for 
the  killing  of  our  negro  soldiers  and  their  officers. 

il  24 — On  this  day  the  Union  forces  were  defeated  in  a fight  at 
Beverly,  Ya.,  and  were  victorious  at  Weber  Falls,  Ark.,  and 
also  on  the  Iron  Mountain  railroad,  near  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

u 26 — Three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  bushels  of  corn  destroyed 
on  Deer  Creek,  Miss.,  by  ajiarty  of  Union  raiders. 

11  27 — Texas  Legion  captured  at  Franklin,  Tenn. 

“ 28 — Cavalry  fight  at  Sand  Mountain,  Geo.  Southern  troops  flee, 
leaving  200  dead  and  wounded. 

During  this  month  no  less  than  eighty-five  battles,  skirmishes 


484 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


or  attacks  took  place  on  land  and  upon  the  water,  (the  lat- 
ter principally  by  gunboats.) 

May  1 — Battle  of  Port  Gibson  ; 11,000  southern  troops  defeated. 

They  also  suffer  another  defeat  at  Monticello,  Ky.,  and  an- 
other at  South  Quay,  Ya.  The  Unionists  suffer  a defeat 
also  in  a skirmish  at  Lagrange,  Ark.  The  battle  of  Chan- 
cellors ville,  Ya.,  also  commenced  this  day. 

" 2 — Battle  of  Chancellorsville,  Ya.  This  was  the  second  day  of 

fight.  The  Union  forces  under  Gen.  Hooker;  opposed  by 
Gen.  Lee.  On  the  third  day  loss  heavy  on  both  sides. 

u 2 — Col.  Grierson’s  raiders  reach  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  after  15 
days’  ride  through  Mississippi,  in  which  time  they  had  sev- 
eral fights,  took  prisoners,  destroyed  railroads,  burnt 
bridges,  and  did  much  damage. 

“ 3 — Col.  Streight’s  Union  raiding  force  of  1,600  men  captured 
near  Gadsden,  Ala. 

(i  3 — Gen.  Sedgwick  captured  Fredericksburg,  Ya.,  but  it  was  re- 
taken the  next  day. 

li  3 — Capture  of  Grand  Gulf,  Miss.,  by  Admiral  Porter’s  fleet. 

“ 5 — Yallandigham  arrested  in  Ohio  for  treason. 

“ 10 — Stonewall  Jackson  died. 

u 12 — Battle  of  Farnden’s  Creek,  Miss.  Between  Gen.  Gregg 
and  the  Unionists  under  Gen.  Logan — each  about  5,000 
men.  Union  victory. 

u 13 — Yazoo  City  captured  by  the  Union  gunboats,  with  two  mil- 
lions of  property. 

11  16 — Battle  at  Baker’s  Creek,  Miss. ; Gen.  Grant,  Union,  against 
Gen.  Pemberton,  who  was  defeated,  with  a loss  of  4,000  men. 
This  victory  was  followed  up  by  another  battle  the  next 
day,  when  2,000  more  prisoners  were  taken. 

li  18 — Yicksburg  invested  by  the  forces  of  Gens.  Grant,  Sher- 
man, McPherson  and  McClernand,  and  the  terrible  battle 
began,  while  Admiral  Porter  aided  them  with  his  fleet  of 
gunboats.  (See  4th  of  July  next.) 

a 21 — The  southern  troops  offer  terms  of  capitulation,  being  com- 
pletely surrounded  in  their  fortifications  at  Yicksburg'.  But 
Gen.  Grant  refused  any  other  terms  than  unconditional  sur- 
render. 

u 26 — Gen.  Breckenridge  defeated  in  Tennessee. 

“ 27 — Gen.  Banks  repulsed  in  his  second  attack  on  Port  Hudson, 
La.  He  also  failed  in  two  or  three  subsequent  attacks  on  the 
same  place. 

June  7 — Battle  at  Milliken’s  Bend.  The  Union  force  in  the  main 
action  were  negroes,  who  drove  back  the  enemy. 

u 9 — Two  cavalry  fights  take  place  this  day  on  the  Rappahannock 
river,  the  latter  at  Brandy  station. 

il  11 — Col.  Montgomery  starts  from  Hilton  Head,  S.  C.  with  a 
regiment  of  colored  troops,  for  a raid  in  Georgia. 

u 11 — The  Clarence  captures  six  vessels  off  the  Chesapeake  bay. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD  485 

June  15 — President  Lincoln  calls  for  100,000  men  to  repel  Gen.  Lee’s 
army,  now  marching  north. 

a 16 — The  governors  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  call  for 
volunteers  to  defend  Pennsylvania  from  invasion. 

a 17 — The  steamer  Nashville  captured. 

a ig — The  southern  troops,  under  Milroy,  arrive  at  Bedford,  Pa., 
and  within  a few  days  after  several  other  large  bodies  of 
their  troops  enter  the  State  at  Chambersburg,  Carlisle,  Ship- 
pensburg,  Gettysburg,  and  York,  amounting  in  all  to  more 
than  100,000  men. 

“ 20 — The  new  State  of  West  Virginia  organized. 

J U1  y — Missouri  abolishes  slavery  in  that  State. 

a"  l_2-3 — Successive  fighting  for  three  days  at  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
which  ended  in  a Union  victory.  This  was  one  of  the  great- 
est battles  of  our  civil  war : 6,000  men  were  buried  on  the 
field,  and  about  200,000  were  in  the  fight;  Union  loss  23,- 
000  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  General  Lee,  in  the 
night,  crossed  the  Potomac  river  into  Virginia. 

“ 4 — Vicksburg,  Miss.,  surrendered  to  Gen.  Grant,  after  holding 
out  against  our  bombarding  and  shelling  since  the  18th  of 
May  last.  Gen.  Pemberton  not  only  surrendered  the  place, 
but  his  whole  army  of  31,000  men,  220  guns,,  and  70,000 
small  arms.  The  battle  of  Gettysburg  and  the  surrender  of 
Vicksburg  may  be  considered  as  the  turning  point  of  the 
war. 

“ 4 — Gen.  Lee  fled.  President  Lincoln  announces  the  victory  of 
Gettysburg,  and  Gen.  Meade  issues  a congratulatory  address 
to  his  army  on  their  victory. 

8 — Surrender  of  Port  Hudson,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  to  Gen. 
Banks,  with  7,000  prisoners,  and  a great  number  of  cannon 
and  small  arms.  This  opened  the  Mississippi  to  trade. 

a 13 — Great  riot  in  New  York.  It  became  necessary  for  the  gov- 
ernment to  send  troops  to  that  city  to  put  down  the  riot. 
The  colored  orphan  asylum  was  burnt,  negroes  hung  in  the 
streets,  houses  robbed  and  burnt. 

il  15 — The  riot  in  New  York  continues.  The  United  States  troops 
had  arrived ; they  fire  upon  the  rioters,  and  kill  and  wound 
several  hundred  of  them. 

11  15 — President  Lincoln  issues  a proclamation  appointing  the  6th 
of  August  as  a day  for  thanksgiving  for  the  recent  great 
victories  by  our  armies. 

“ 23 — Battle  of  Manassas  Gap,  Va.;  southern  loss  about  400  killed 
and  wounded. 

11  26 — Morgan,  the  guerilla,  who  had  been  scouring  Indiana  and 
Ohio,  burning,  killing  and  robbing,  was  captured  with  400 
ot  his  men  in  Ohio. 

11  26 — John  J.  Crittenden,  long  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  State's 
from  Kentucky,  died  at  Frankfort  in  that  State. 

Aug.  1 — Two  battles  between  cavalry  took  place  this  day  in  Vir- 


486 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


ginia;  one  at  Kelly’s  Ford,  on  the  Rappahannock,  and  one 
at.  Culpepper. 

Aug.  4 — The  steamboat  Ruth  accidentally  burnt  on  the  Mississippi 
river,  with  $250,000  of  government  money  on  board.  About 
this  time,  the  Indians  in  Minnesota  were  hostile,  and  Gen. 
Sibley  had  three  battles  with  them,  and  drove  them  off. 

il  12  to  20 — Gen.  Gilmore  bombards  Fort  Sumter,  and  on  the  21st, 
22d,  23d,  and  25th,  threw  shells  into  Charleston,  S.  C.,  at  a 
range  of  nearly  six  miles. 

“ 27 — John  B.  Floyd,  Secretary  of  War  under  Buchanan,  died. 

u 31 — A squadron  of  United  States  war  vessels  attack  fort  Moul- 
trie, in  Charleston  harbor. 

During  this  month,  Mississippi  and  Tennessee  swarmed  with 
guerillas. 

Sept.  1 — Knoxville,  Tenn.,  captured  by  Gen.  Burnside’s  troops.  An 
artillery  fight  at  Port  Royal,  Ya. 

“ 2 — Kingston,  Tenn.,  captured  by  Gen.  Burnside. 

“ 5 — Forts  Wagner  and  Gregg,  near  Charleston,  bombarded  by 

Gen.  Gilmore,  and  on  the  6th  the  enemy  evacuated  them. 

u 8 — Cumberland  Gap,  with  2,000  prisoners,  surrendered  to  Gen. 
Burnside. 

a 10 — Little  Rock,  Ark.,  evacuated  and  occupied  by  the  Union 
troops. 

u 19 — Battle  of  Chickamauga,  Geo.  This  battle  raged  for  two 
days,  and  ended  in  a great  defeat  for  the  Union  army,  and 
a loss  of  over  15,000  men  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 
Gen.  Rosecrans  commanded  the  Union,  and  Gen.  Bragg  the 
southern  troops. 

“ 22 — A heavy  battle  at  Madison  Court  House,  Ya.  Unionists 
victorious. 

“ 28 — The  enemy  attacked  Gen.  Burnside,  at  Knoxville,  Tenn., 
but  were  repulsed. 

Oct.  3 — Union  troops  threw  Greek  fire  into  Charleston. 

u 5 — The  enemy  attacked  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  but  were  repulsed. 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  bombarded  by  Gen.  Bragg. 

5 — The  “New  Ironsides,”  in  Charleston  harbor,  attacked  by  a 
gunboat  and  torpedo,  but  they  failed  in  the  attempt,  and  the 
assailants  were  captured. 

v 14 — Battle  of  Bristoe  Station,  Ya.  Result,  450  Southern 
prisoners. 

tl  16 — Henry  Ward  Beecher  lectures  in  England  in  relation  to  our 

f civil  war. 

“ 16 — Gen.  Grant  takes  command  of  the  departments  of  Tennessee, 
Cumberland  and  Ohio. 

u 17 — President  calls  for  300,000  more  troops. 

u 21 — Three  fights  occur  this  day — 1.  At  Tuscumbia,  Ala.  2.  At 
Philadelphia,  Tenn.  3.  At  Corinth,  Miss. 

“ 26 — Charleston  again  bombarded  from  forts  Wagner,  Gregg  and 
the  Union  gunboats. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  487 

Qct.  27 — Battle  of  Brown’s  Ferry,  on  the  Tennessee^river,  near  Chat- 
tanooga. Southern  troops  repulsed  with  loss. 

11  28 — Lookout  mountain  taken  by  Gen.  Hooker’s  forces. 

“ 31 — Battle  of  Shell  Mound,  Tenn.  Union  troops  under  Gen. 
Hooker  gain  another  victory. 

Nov.  2 — Gen.  Banks  lands  his  army  in  Texas,  and  two  days  after 
takes  peaceable  possession  of  Brownsville. 

“ 5 — Chattanooga  bombarded  for  several  days  about  this  time. 

“ 5 — Gen.  Averill  defeats  the  enemy  at  Lewisburg,  Va.,  cap- 
turing a large  amount  of  arms,  wagons  and  other  property. 

u 6 — About  this  time  the  north  was  horrified  at  the  starvation  of 
Union  prisoners  in  the  prisons  at  Kichmond,  Ya. 

“ 7 — Gen.  Meade  drives  the  enemy  across  the  Bappahannock 

river,  and  captures  2,000  prisoners. 

u 11- — The  British  minister  (Lord  Lyons)  informed  our  govern- 
ment that  the  enemy  intended  to  invade  the  United  States 
from  Canada. 

“ 15 — Gen.  Banks  captured  Corpus  Christi  Pass,  Texas. 

il  15 — Gen.  Longstreet  drove  Gen.  Burnside  from  Holston,  Tenn., 
to  Bull’s  Station. 

11  16 — Gen.  Sherman  and  Gen.  Thomas’  forces  unite  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn. 

“ 17 — Gen.  Longstreet  besieges  the  city  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  at 
this  time  in  Gen.  Burnside’s  possession. 

11  17 — Charleston  again  shelled,  as  it  had  been  on  the  10th  and 
11th  inst. 

,l  19 — Union  National  Cemetery  consecrated  at  Gettysburg  for 
the  soldiers  who  fell  at  the  great  battle  at  that  place  in  July. 

11  20 — Mosby,  having  his  men  disguised  by  Union  uniforms,  at- 
tacks our  troops  at  Bealton  Station.  This  was  discovered 
and  frustrated. 

u 23 — Battles  of  Chattanooga  and  Lookout  Mountain.  The  fight 
was  continued  three  days.  (jren.  Hooker  drove  the  enemy 
from  the  mountain.  This  fight  was  above  the  clouds.  Gens. 
Hooker,  Thomas  and  Sherman  commanded  the  Union  troops, 
and  Gen.  Bragg  the  enemy. 

“ 26 — The  Union  troops  pursued  them  to  Chickamauga.  But  they 
had  fled,  after  destroying  their  stores. 

c 26 — Cavalry  fight  near  the  Kapidan  river. 

c 26 — Gen.  Grant  reported  that  Gen.  Bragg’s  rout  was  complete, 
with  a loss  of  sixty  guns. 

u 28 — Gen.  John  Morgan  escaped  from  prison  at  Columbus,  Ohio. 

“ 28 — The  southern  forces  attacked  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  and  were 
repulsed  the  next  day  with  great  slaughter. 

Dec.  4 — Gen.  Longstreet  abandoned  Knoxville,  and  two  days  after, 
Gen.  Sherman’s  troops  arrived  there  to  relieve  Gen.  Burn- 
side. 

a 7 — President  Lincoln,  by  proclamation,  recommended  a day  of 
thanksgiving,  to  be  observed  by  all  loyal  people,  on  account 
of  the  recent  great  victories. 


488  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Dec.  8 — The  President  issued  another  proclamation,  offering  pardon 
(with  few  exceptions)  to  all  who  had  taken  part  in  the  civil- 
war,  upon  consideration  of  their  taking  an  oath  hereafter 
to  support  the  Constitution,  the  union  of  all  the  States,  and 
the  laws  of  Congress. 

44  12 — Gen.  Butler  gave  notice  that  the  authorities  at  Richmond 
refused  to  receive  any  more  supplies  for  the  Union  pris- 
oners. 

44  16 — Gen.  Averill’s  cavalry  destroyed  the  Virginia  and  Tennes- 
see railroad,  and  a depot  containing  4,000  barrels  of  flour 
and  meat,  160,000  bushels  of  grain,  and  other  military  sup- 
plies. 

44  17 — The  steamer  Chesapeake,  which  had  been  captured  by  pas- 
sengers on  the  6th  inst.,  retaken  by  a United  States  gunboat 
near  Halifax,  NT.  S. 

44  24 — The  bombardment  of  Charleston  still  continued. 

1864. 

Jan.  7 — Two  blockade  runners  were  captured  this  day:  1.  The  Dare, 
a British  steamer,  was  run  ashore  at  Wilmington,  1ST.  C.,  and 
destroyed.  2.  The  John  Scott  at  Mobile  Bay. 

44  11 — Two  more  blockade  runners  beached  and  burned  on  the  coast 
of  Horth  Carolina.  These  made  22  which  had  been  captured 
or  burnt  in  the  last  six  months. 

44  19 — The  office  of  Assistant  Secretary  of  War  created  by  act  of 
Congress. 

“25 — Cornelius  Vanderbilt  received  a vote  of  thanks  from  Con- 
gress for  his  gift  to  the  government  of  the  steamer  Vander- 
bilt, worth  $800,000.  This  ship  had  just  returned  from  a 
year’s  cruise. 

Feb.  1 — The  President  ordered  a draft  of  500,000  men  for  three  years 
or  during  the  war. 

44  5 — The  United  States  gunboat  Cambridge  destroyed  the  Eng- 
lish steamer  Dee;  and  the  gunboat  DeSoto  captured  the 
British  steamer  Cumberland,  with  a cargo  of  arms,  ofl*  Mo- 
bile. 

44  9 — Over  1,000  bales  of  cotton  burnt  at  Wilmington,  1ST.  C., 
valued  at  $700,000. 

“ 20 — Battle  of  Olustee,  Ela.  Union  troops,  under  Gen.  Seymour, 
were  defeated  with  great  loss.  Two  negro  regiments  cov- 
ered his  retreat  and  saved  his  army, 

44  23 — Admiral  Farragut  began  his  six  days’  bombardment  of  fort 
Powell,  below  Mobile. 

44  25 — Grierson  and  Smith’s  cavalry  return  to  Memphis.  During 
their  expedition  they  took  1,500  negroes,  and  300  horses; 
destroyed  3,000,000  bushels  of  corn,  4,000  bales  of  cotton, 
2,000  hides  and  40  miles  of  railroad. 

44  27 — Gen.  Sherman’s  expedition  returns  to  Vicksburg,  having 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


489 


destroyed  150  miles  of  railroad,  20  locomotives,  10,000  bales 
of  cotton,  2,000,000  bushels  of  corn,  and  freed  10,000  ne- 
groes. 

During  this  month,  in  addition  to  the  two  raids  above  men- 
tioned, several  others  of  less  importance  took  place.  The 
amount  of  property  destroyed  was  immense,  besides  which, 
eighteen  vessels  (blockade  runners  and  others)  were  cap- 
tured or  destroyed. 

JHarch  1 — Gen.  Ulysses  S.  Grant  nominated  for  Lieutenant  General, 
and  confirmed  by  the  Senate  the  next  day. 
u 12 — He  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  of  the  United 

States  army. 

11  15 — The  President  calls  for  200,000  more  men. 

u 25— Gen.  Forrest,  with  6,500  men,  attacks  Paducah,  Ky.,  but 
was  repulsed,  by  aid  of  Union  gunboats,  with  heavy  loss. 

28 — Battle  of  Cane  river,  La.,  when  8,000  Union  troops, 
under  Mower  and  Dudley,  defeat  12,000  under  Gen.  Taylor. 

April  4 — Gen.  Steele  defeats  Gen.  Marmaduke’s  cavalry,  4,000  strong, 
on  the  little  Missouri  river,  Ark. 

11  6 — Gen.  Sheridan  put  in  command  of  the  cavalry  of  the  army 

of  the  Potomac. 

u 8 — Gen.  Banks’  troops  defeated,  with  a loss  of  2,000  men  and 
24  guns,  at  Mansfield,  La.,  by  Kirb}^  Smith. 
if  8 — Gen.  Banks’  forces  again  attacked  by  the  enemy,  who  were 

repulsed.  Banks  now  gives  up  his  Red  river  expedition, 
having  lost  about  4,000  men  and  300  wagons, 
u 12 — Gen.  Forrest  storms  fort  Pillow,  and  after  its  surrender,  of 
the  garrison,  consisting  of  250  whites  and  350  negroes,  not 
200  escaped. 

il  21 — North  Carolina  salt  works,  near  Wilmington,  destroyed 
by  a party  from  our  gunboats.  These  works  were  worth 
$100,000.  Before  this,  the  Union  .commanders  had  made  it 
their  business  to  destroy  all  the  salt  works  in  the  southern 
States  which  could  be  found,  and  millions  of  dollars  worth 
wene  thus  destroyed. 

May  2 — 400  Union  prisoners  reach  Annapolis,  almost  dead  from 
starvation. 

11  4 — Grant’s  army,  consisting  of  about  80,000  men,  cross  the 

Rapidan  and  encamp  at  Chancellorsville  and  the  Wilder- 
ness. 

“ 5 — The  great  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Ya.,  begins — Grant 

commanding  the  Union  army.  Nothing  decisive  this  day, 
but  loss  heavy  on  both  sides. 

6 — Second  days’  fighting  commenced  early  in  the  morning. 
Here  Gen.  Wadsworth  (U.)  was  mortally  wounded,  and 
about  30,000  men,  on  both  sides,  were  killed  or  wounded. 
Neither  party  could  claim  victory. 
tl  6 — At  this  date  Sherman’s  army,  posted  on  the  borders  of  Ten- 
nessee and  Georgia,  (not  far  from  Chattanooga,)  amounted 


490 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


to  nearly  100,000  men  and  250  guns  ; while  the  forces  under 
Joe  Johnson,  in  the  vicinity,  were  not  over  60,000  strong. 

May  7 — Lee  retreats  to-day  from  the  battle-ground  of  the  Wilder- 
ness for  Spottsyl vania  Court  House — the  Union  army  starts 
for  the  same  place — several  fights  occur  on  the  way. 

“ 7 — From  otficial  reports  it  appeared  that  from  the  commence- 

ment of  the  war  to  this  date,  there  had  been  over  150,000 
officers  and  men  taken  prisoners  by  the  Unionists. 
u 8 — Hard  battle  to-day  at  Spottsylvania  Court  Hou^e,  between 
Grant  and  Lee’s  forces — Gen.  Sedgwick  was  killed,  but  no 
decisive  result,  except  that  Gen.  Sheridan  captured  im- 
mense supplies  at  Beaver  Dam  station. 
u 10 — The  same  battle  still  continued,  but  nothing  decisive,  with 
a loss  on  each  side  of  probably  10,000. 
u 12 — Another  hard  fight  to-day,  but  still  undecisive. 
u 16 — Gen.  Butler’s  besieging  forces  at  fort  Darling,  on  the  James 
river,  were  attacked  and  defeated  by  a loss  of  3,500  men  in 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoners. 

et  26 — The  Territory  of  Montana  organized  into  a Territorial  gov- 
ernment, by  act  of  Congress. 

June  1 — Battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  Ya.  This  continued  three  days,  but 
was  undecisive. 

11  7 — A.  Lincoln  nominated  by  a Republican  convention  at  Balti- 

more for  a second  Presidential  term. 
u 14 — General  (and  Bishop)  Polk  killed  by  a cannon  shot. 

“ 15 — Gen.  W.  F.  Smith  attacks  Petersburg,  Ya.,  with  15,000 
men,  principally  colored,  for  three  successive  days.  At- 
tacks were  continued  but  without  success.  These  various 
assaults  cost  the  Unionists  nearly  10,000  men. 
u 19 — The  steamer  “ Alabama,”  commanded  by  R.  Semmes,  was 
sunk  on  the  coast  of  France  by  the  U.  S.  gunboat  11  Kear- 
sarge,”Capt.  Winslow,  after  a two  hours’  fight. 

“ 28 — The  fugitive  slave  law  of  1850,  repealed. 
u 30 — -Salmon  P.  Chase,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  resigns  his 
office,  and  Senator  Fessenden  was  appointed  in  his  place. 

July  1 — The  public  debt  of  the  United  States,  at  this  date,  was  $1,- 
740,690,489.49. 

' 11  1 — Gen.  Sherman  takes  3,000  prisoners  this  day. 

u 4 — An  act  passed  by  Congress  to  establish  a branch  mint  at 
Dalles  City,  Oregon. 

a 8 — The  11  Florida  ” burns  several  vessels  off  the  coast  of  Mary- 
land. 

“ 9 — Battle  of  Monocacy — Gen.  Early  victorious. 

u 18 — President  Lincoln  calls  for  500,000  more  troops. 

u 20 — Fight  at  Winchester,  Ya.,  between  Gen.  Early,  and  Gen. 

Averill — southerners  retreated  with  loss. 

11  20-22 — Two  severe  battles  in  Georgia.  Gen.  Hood  attacks  Gen. 
Sherman’s  army  with  a loss  of  20,000  men  in  killed,  wounded 
and  prisoners.  Union  Gen.  McPherson  killed  on  the  22d. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  491 

July  25 — The  mine  under  the  fort  before  Petersburg  completed,  and 
charged  with  four  tons  of  powder. 

11  28 — Battle  of  Four  Mile  Creek,  north  of  the  James  river,  Va. 
The  gain  nothing. 

“ 30 — The  great  mine  under  the  fort  before  Petersburg  exploded 
— blowing  up  the  fort,  with  the  regiment  which  garrisoned 
it,  but  from  bad  management,  it  proved  a disastrous  affair. 
Union  loss  4,000,  the  enemy,  only  1,050. 

“ 30 — Gen.  McCausland  entered  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  and  burnt 
it.  Loss,  $1,000,000. 

“ 30 — Gen.  Stoneman’s  troops  attacked  by  a great  force  at  Macon, 
Geo.;  and,  after  some  hours’  fighting,  surrendered. 

During  this  month  Petersburg  Va.>,  was  cannonaded  nearly 
every  day. 

Aug.  2 — Gen.  Banks  puts  all  the  negroes,  between  the  ages  of  18  and 
40,  (in  the  department  of  the  Grand  Gulf,)  into  his  army, 

“ 3 — Gen.  Hood  attacks  Gen.  Logan’s  lines  at  Atlanta,  Geo.,  and 

drove  them  back,  but  in  the  evening  Logan  regained  his 
position. 

“ 5 — Admiral  Farragut  enters  Mobile  bay  with  32  vessels,  silenc- 

ing  the  forts  as  he  passed  them.  Inside,  he  attacks  the  iron- 
clad ram  Tennessee,  which  surrendered  with  her  admiral, 
Buchanan,  and  her  crew.  At  this  engagement  the  monitor 
Tecumseh  was  blown  up  and  sunk,  by  a torpedo. 

“ 6 — Fort  Powell,  on  Mobile  bay,  abandoned,  when  it  fell  into 

the  hands  of  Gen.  Granger,  with  18  guns. 

u 7 — Gen.  Averill  defeats  the  force  at  Moorfield,  W.  Va.,  taking 
all  their  guns,  420  prisoners,  and  400  horses — when  they  fled 
to  the  mountains. 

u 7 — English  steamer  Prince  Albert  sunk  in  Charleston  harbor 
by  our  fleet. 

a 7 — The  shelling  of  Petersburg  continues. 

“ 8 — Fort  Gaines,  at  Mobile  bay,  surrenders  to  Farragut  and 

Granger — 56  oflicers,  818  men,  and  26  guns. 

u 9 — Atlanta,  Ga.,  bombarded  from  all  parts  of  Sherman’s  lines. 

“ 11 — The  pirate  Tallahassee,  off  Fire  Island,  burns  five  merchant 
vessels,  and  during  this  month  she  burnt  and  sank  as  many 
more. 

u 13 — Mosby,  the  guerilla  leader,  attacks  and  captures  a Union 
supply  train  of  75  wagons,  500  horses,  200  cattle,  and  200 
prisoners,  near  Berryville,  Va. 

u 19 — The  enemy  attack  the  Union  lines  at  Beam’s  Station,  Va., 
and  took  3,000  prisoners. 

H 21 — The  enemy  attempt  to  drive  Gen.  Warrenfrom  the  Weldon 
railroad  and  lost  600  men  killed,  and  1,100  prisoners — among 
their  killed  were  Gens.  Saunders  and  Lamar. 

’ 23 — Fort  Morgan  (in  Mobile  bay,)  surrenders  to  Admiral  Farra- 
gut and  Gen.  Granger  ; 600  men  and  60  guns  were  taken. 

'<  25 — Battle  of  Beam’s  Station,  Va.,  in  which  the  enemy  drovo 


492  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

our  troops  out,  killed  and  wounded  1,000  of  them,  and 
make  prisoners  of  2,000  more. 

At  the  close  of  August,  we  may  say  summarily  that  during 
this  month  Gen.  Grant  was  operating  before  Richmond, 
Ya.  ; Gen.  Thomas  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  Admiral  Farragut 
in  Mobile  bay. 

Sept.  2 — Gen.  Hood,  the  commander  at  Atlanta,  Ga.?  evacuates  the 
place  after  destroying  80  carloads  of  ammunition  and  a vast 
quantity  of  military  stores  ; and  the  Union  troops  under 
Gen.  Slocum,  take  possession,  while  Gen.  Thomas  pursues 
Hood. 

11  8 — Petersburgh,  Ya.,  still  cannonaded  and  shelled, 

u 12 — Gen.  Sherman  sends  all  the  inhabitants  of  Atlanta  out  of 
the  place. 

u 13 — Gen.  Sheridan  operating  generally  in  the  Shenandoah  val- 
ley, Ya. 

u 16 — A strong  cavalry  force,  under  Hampton,  at  Caggin’s 
Point,  on  the  James  river,  Ya.,  drove  off  2,500  beeves,  in- 
tended for  the  Union  army  there. 

“ 19 — Battle  of  Oquequan,  Ya.  Here  Sheridan  defeated  Gen.  Early, 
who  lost  over  8,000  men  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners, 
besides  6,000  small  arms. 

“ 20 — A shotted  salute  over  Sheridan’s  victory,  fired  into  Peters- 
bug,  which  caused  an  artillery  duel  all  along  our  lines. 

u 22 — Battle  of  Fisher’s  Hill,  when  Gen.  Sheridan  again  defeats 
Early,  who  lost  1,500  killed  and  wounded,  besides  2,400  pris- 
oners, 21  cannon,  and  a great  quantity  of  small  arms.  . 

tl  30 — Our  blockading  force  captured  and  destroyed  about  fifty 
blockade  runners  this  month. 

Oct.  7 — Gen.  Sheridan  returns  from  his  raid  up  the  valley  of  the 
Shenandoah,  where  he  has  destroyed  2,000  barns  and  their 
contents,  with  70  mills.  He  also  took  4,000  cattle,  3,000 
sheep  and  a great  number  of  horses. 

“ 7 — Commander  Collins  of  the  ship  Wachussett,  ran  down  the 

Florida,  at  Bahia,  Brazil,  and  brought  her  home. 

“ 10 — The  English  blockade  running  steamer  Bat,  captured  off 
Wilmington,  NT.  C.,  on  her  first  trip;  she  and  her  cargo 
were  of  great  value. 

“ 11 — Maryland  votes  for  a new  Constitution,  with  a section  in  it 
abolishing  slavery. 

u 19 — Great  battle  at  Cedar  Creek,  Ya.,  in  which  Gen.  Sheridan 
defeats  Early.  This  victory  was  gained  after  Sheridan’s 
troops  had  fled  from  the  battle  field.  Sheridan  stopped  the 
retreat,  turned  his  men  about  and  whipped  the  enemy ; who, 
flying,  left  everything  behind  them.  The  enemy’s  loss  2,000 
men,  with  1,300  prisoners,  48  cannon,  398  horses,  65  ambu- 
lances, 50  wagons,  and  an  immense  amount  of  arms  and 
ammunition. 

u 19 — A number  of  refugees,  who  were  harbored  in  Canada,  en- 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  493 

ter  St.  Albans,  Vt.,  and  robbed  three  banks,  stole  what  they 
wanted,  and  returned  to  Canada. 

Oct.  27 — Gen.  Grant's  army  makes  a reconnoisance  on  both  sides  of 
the  James  river,  but  it  resulted  in  nothing  but  the  loss  of 
1,500  men  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners. 

a 28 — Gen.  Price,  with  his  army,  driven  out  of  Missouri  into  Ar- 
kansas. This  was  the  end  of  Price’s  invasion  of  that  State. 
He  left  it  with  about  one-third  of  his  men. 

Nov>  3 — The  battle  of  Franklin,  Tenn.,  to-day,  resulted  in  a deci- 
ded Union  victory — Gen  Hood  commanding  the  enemy,  and 
Gen.  Stanley  the  Unionists.  Union  loss  2,500  to  3,000. 

u g — Abraham  Lincoln  re-elected  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  Andrew  Johnson,  Vice  President. 

“ 8 — Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  resigns  his  commission  as  Major 

General  in  the  United  States  Army. 

“ 9 — Gen.  ^Sherman  issues  orders  for  his  army  to  march  from 

Atlanta,  Georgia,  to  Savannah. 

“ 11 — The  gunboat  Tulip  bursts  her  boiler  on  the  Potomac  river, 
killing  nearly  all  on  board. 

“ 13 — Gen.  Breckenridge  attacks  Gen.  Gillem,  near  Bull's  Gap, 
Tenn.,  in  the  night,  and  routed  his  army. 

“ 14 — Gen  Sherman  leaves  Atlanta,  Ga.,  after  blowing  up  and 
burning  the  public  buildings  and  factories.  His  army 
moves  in  two  columns  towards  the  sea — one  under  Gen. 
Howard,  and  the  other  under  Gen.  Slocum. 

11  15 — Atlanta  burning  all  day. 

“ 19 — At  the  approach  of  Sherman,  Gov.  Brown  and  his  Legis- 

lature, of  Georgia,  ran  away  from  Milledgeville,  the  capital 
of  the  State. 

11  22 — Sherman’s  army  enter  Milledgeville  ; and  on  the 

“ 23 — Some  of  his  soldiers  hold  a mock  session  of  the  Legisla- 

ture, and  pass  highly  loyal  resolutions. 

“ 24 — Thanksgiving  was  observed  by  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 

with  59,000  lbs.  of  turkeys  sent  them  from  the  north  ; and 
36,000  lbs.  were  sent  to  Sheridan's  army. 

u 25 — An  attempt  was  made  to-night  to  fire  Hew  York  city  by 
southern  desperadoes,  who  set  fire  in  their  rooms  in  fifteen 
hotels  in  the  city,  and  also  in  several  other  places  ; but  the 
plot  failed  of  success. 

pec.  1 — Including  those  now  in  course  of  construction,  we  have 
671  vessels  in  our  navy,  carrying  over  4,600  guns  and  51,000 
men.  These  have  captured  324  vessels  during  the  past  year, 
and  1,379  since  the  war  began — 267  of  which  were  steamers. 

11  5— Up  to  this  date  65  blockade  runners  (steamers)  have  been 

either  taken  or  destroyed  before  Wilmington,  N.  C.  Ships 
and  cargoes  worth  $12,000,000. 

“ 6 — Ex-Secretary  (of  the  Treasury)  Chase  appointed  Chief  Jus- 


494 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


tice  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  in  place  of  Roger 
B.  Taney,  deceased. 

Dec.  12 — Sherman’s  army  reach  Savannah,  where  Gen.  Hardee  is 
found,  with  15,000  troops.  In  his  march  from  Atlanta  to 
this  place  his  army  destroyed  15,000  bales  of  cotton,  cap- 
tured 6,000  beeves  and  1,800  horses  and  mules,  and  15,000 
negroes  came  into  our  lines. 

il  13 — Gen.  Hazen’s  division,  under  Sherman,  storm  fort  McAl- 
ister, near  Savannah,  Georgia,  and  take  it,  with  200  pris- 
oners and  all  its  stores. 

il  14 — Gen.  Dix  issues  an  order  to  follow  any  invaders  from  Can- 
ada on  to  Canadian  soil,  if  necessary  to  seize  them  ; but  the 
President  disapproved  the  order. 

tl  15 — Battle  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  which  Gen.  Thomas  (Union) 
gained  a victory  over  Gen.  Hood.  This  battle  lasted  two 
days,  on  both  of  which  the  Unionists  were  victorious. 

61  15 — Battle  of  Murfreesborough,  Tenn.,  in  which  Union  Gen. 

Rousseau  defeats  Gen.  Forrest,  who  lost  1.500  men. 

“ 19 — President  Lincoln  issues  a call  for  300,000  volunteers. 

11  20 — Gen.  Stoneman  attacks  three  forts  at  Saltville,  drove  out 

the  southern  forces,  and  destroyed  their  salt  works  and  lead 
mines,  with  50  railroad  bridges. 

il  20 — Gen.  Sherman  demands  the  surrender  of  Savannah.  Gen. 
Hardee  refuses,  hut  fled  during  the  night. 

21 — Gen.  Sherman  enters  the  city  without  opposition  ; captures 
800  prisoners,  33,000  hales  of  cotton,  150  cannon,  13  loco- 
motives, 190  cars,  3 steamers,  with  much  ammunition  and 
stores;  makes  Gen.  Geary  military  Governor.  The  people 
submit  gracefully  to  their  new  masters. 

11  21 — Admiral  Farragut  made  vice  admiral,  as  a reward  for  his 

great  services. 

1865. 

Jan.  1 — Since  July  3,  1861,  66,390  pension  certificates  had  been 
granted. 

“ 11 — The  Missouri  State  convention  passed  an  ordinance  eman- 
cipating the  slaves  in  that  State. 

u 14 — One  vessel  starts  from  Boston  and  another  from  New  York, 
with  charitable  supplies  for  the  people  of  Savannah,  Ga.; 
and  on  the  16th  instant  another  vessel  left  New  York  with 
further  supplies,  worth  in  all  $100,000. 

u 15 — Gen.  Terry,  with  a force  of  9,000  men,  aided  by  the  fleet  at 
that  place,  captures  fort  Fisher,  on  the  coast  of  North  Car- 
olina, after  three  days  fighting.  Gen.  Whiting  and  Col. 
Lamb  commanded  the  fort.  We  took  1,800  prisoners  ; killed 
and  wounded  400  more;  our  loss  was  over  1,000  killed  and 
wounded.  This  was  a terrible  blow  to  the  enemy;  it  left 
them  without  a single  port. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD.  405 

Jan.  15 — Edward  Everett,  a most  distinguished  scholar,  statesman 
and  orator,  died  at  Boston,  aged  71. 

“ 16 — The  magazine  at  fort  Fisher  exploded,  and  killed  and 
wounded  300  of  our  troops. 

“ 17 — The  monitor  Patapsco  blown  up  ana  sunk  by  a torpedo  in 
Charleston  harbor ; 7 officers  and  65  men  went  down  with 
her. 

“ 23 — The  southern  Gen.  Hood  formally  takes  leave  of  the  south- 
ern army,  having  been  succeeded  by  Gen.  Taylor. 

“ 28 — Gen.  Breckenridge  succeeds  Mr.  Seddon,  as  southern  Sec- 
retary of  War. 

a 29 — A.  H.  Stephens,  R.  M.  T.  Hunter,  and  A.  J.  Campbell,  ob- 
tain permission  of  Gen.  Grant,  at  City  Point,  Va.,  to  go  to 
Portress  Monroe,  to  try  and  negotiate  a peace. 

u 31 — The  House  of  Representatives  passes  the  Senate  joint  reso- 
lution to  amend  the  Constitution,  so  as  to  abolish  slavery  in 
the  United  States,  by  119  to  56. 

Peb.  1 — Secretary  Seward  goes  to  fortress  Monroe  to  meet  the  three 
southern  commissioners. 

11  1 — The  legislature  of  Illinois  ratifies  the  emancipation  amend- 

ment, just  passed  both  houses  of  Congress.  This  was  the 
first  State  to  do  so. 

11  2 — President  Lincoln  goes  to  fortress  Monroe  to  meet  the 

southern  peace  commissioners — but  nothing  was  agreed  on. 

“ 2-3 — Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,  Hew  York,  Pennsylvania, 

Maryland  and  West  Virginia  all  ratify  the  Constitutional 
amendment,  and  on  the  7th,  Maine  and  Missouri  do  the 
same  : and,  on  the  8th,  Ohio  also. 

11  17 — Columbia,  S.  C.,  burnt  accidentally. 

A paper  dollar  was  worth  but  two  cents  in  specie,  in  Rich- 
mond, Va. 

u 18 — The  Union  troops  enter  Charleston  this  day,  and  take  450 
good  cannon  and  the  blockade  runners  Cyrene  and  Deer. 

11  18 — Gen.  Lee  writes  a letter  in  favor  of  arming  the  slaves,  say- 

ing the  whites  could  not  carry  on  the  war  alone. 

“ 25 — Eight  hundred  southern  soldiers  came  into  our  lines,  all  of 

whom  had  deserted  during  the  last  week. 

Mar.  1 — The  Legislature  of  Hew  Jersey  rejects  the  Constitutional 
amendment  (the  14th). 

“ 2 — Gen.  Sheridan  attacks  Gen.  Early  between  Staunton  and 

Waynesborough,  Va.,  and  completely  routed  him,  captur- 
ing nearly  1,700  of  his  troops. 

11  4 — President  Lincoln  is  inaugurated  on  his  second  term. 

“ 9 — Vermont  ratified  the  fourteenth  amendment  of  the  U S. 

Constitution. 

u 14 — Gen.  Sherman  destroys  the  great  arsenal,  with  much  ma- 
chinery, at  Fayetteville,  H.  C. 

“ 15 — At  this  date  it  was  estimated  that  more  than  60,000  Union 
soldiers  had  been  starved  to  death  in  southern  prisons. 

32 


496  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Mar.  16 — The  battle  of  Averysborough,  between  a portion  of  Sher- 
man's army,  and  confederate  Gen.  Hardee.  Our  loss  was 
nearly  1,000  men.  At  night  Hardee's  troops  ran  away. 

11  18 — The  confederate  Congress  adjourns  sine  die — never  to  meet 
again.  One  of  its  last  acts  was  the  passage  of  a law  raising 
a negro  force. 

“ 19 — Battle  at  Bentonsville,  west  of  Goldsboro',  N.  C.,  between 
Gen.  Johnston's  infantry  of  30,000  men,  and  Gen.  Slocum’s 
wing  of  Gen.  Sherman's  army.  This  battle  lasted  all  day, 
hut  Slocum  held  the  field. 

u 25 — The  southern  forces  under  Gen.  Gordon  attack  and  take  fort 
Steadman,  near  Petersburg,  Va.  ; but  we  soon  retook  it, 
capturing  1700  Southerners,  and  defeated  their  whole  force. 

11  28 — Gen.  Grant's  lines  before  Richmond  extended  39>miles,  and 
well  fortified  all  the  way. 

At  the  close  of  this  month  we  may  make  this  general  remark: 
Gen.  Grant  had  lain  with  his  army  before  Richmond  for  a 
long  time,  and  now  Gen.  Sherman's  army  from  the  south 
had  arrived,  or  was  near  at  hand,  and  so  had  Gen.  Sheri- 
dan's from  the  Shenandoah  valley.  Gen.  Lee  was  hemmed 
in,  and  it  was  clearly  seen  that  secession  must  fail. 

April  1 — Gen.  Sheridan's  forces  capture  6,000  men  and  fifteen  guns 
to-day. 

u 2 — The  southern  forces  in  the  night  at  Richmond  blow  up  their 
forts  and  rams,  preparatory  to  evacuating  the  city. 

4*  2 — Gen.  Lee  evacuates  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  in  conse- 

quence of  an  attack  all  along  Gen.  Grant's  line.  Lee  re- 
treated westward,  with  his  army  demoralized.  The  power 
of  the  southern  confederacy  was  gone,  and  our  great  civil 
war  virtually  finished.  Jeff.  Davis,  his  family,  and  some 
of  his  late  cabinet,  fled  from  Richmond. 

The  same  day  Gen.  Wilson  attacks  Gen.  Forrest,  who  held  the 
defenses  at  Selma,  Ala*,  with  7,000  troops  ; they  were  routed 
after  one  hour's  fight.  Wilson  took  the  town,  with  2,000 
prisoners,  100  guns,  stores,  &c. 

u s — The  Union  troops,  under  Gen.  Weitzel,  enter  and  take  pos- 
session of  Richmond.  On  the  same  day  the  Union  troops 
enter  Petersburg.  When  the  enemy  left  Richmond,  they 
set  fire  to  it,  and  burnt  a large  portion  of  the  city.  The 
Richmond  “ Whig  " quotes  flour  at  $900  to  $1,000  per  bar- 
rel, corn  at  $100  per  bushel,  and  butter  at  $20  per  lb.  in 
confederate  money, 

“ 4 — Gen.  Grant  pursues  Gen.  Lee.  Lee  lost  50,000  men  in 

killed,  wounded,  deserters,  &c. 

u 4 — Gen.  Weitzel  reports  that  he  took  in  Richmond  28  locomo- 
tives, 150  cars,  500  cannon,  5,000  stand  of  arms,  with  1,000 
well,  and  5,000  sick  prisoners. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


497 


April  4 — Jeff.  Davis  issues  a proclamation,  from  Danville,  C.,  as- 
serting that  the  cause  was  not  hopeless,  and  urges  further 
resistance ! 

u 8 — A correspondence  between  Gens.  Grant  and  Lee  respecting 
the  surrender  of  the  southern  army,  is  carried  on  to-day. 

tl  8 — Gen.  Canby’s  troops  capture  Spanish  Fort,  near  Mobile,  by 
assault,  securing  25  officers,  over  500  men,  and  25  guns. 

li  8 — Gen.  Lee  surrenders  his  army  to  Gen.  Grant. 

“ 10 — Gen.  Lee  issues  his  farewell  address  to  his  army,  congratu- 
lating them  upon  having  faithfully  discharged  their  duty  to 
their  country. 

“ 10 — The  southern  forces  evacuate  Mobile. 

u 11 — The  parolli-ng  of  Lee’s  troops  begins  to-day. 

“ 12 — Gen.  Stoneman  defeats  the  force  defending  Salisbury,  N.  C., 
and  occupies  the  place,  capturing  and  destroying  7,000  bales 
of  cotton,  with  a million  rounds  of  ammunition,  and  an 
arsenal. 

il  12 — Gen.  Canby’s  troops  enter  Mobile  without  resistance. 

11  13 — The  official  report  of  Lee’s  surrender  in  men  and  property 
was  stated  at  26,115  men,  15,918  small  arms,  159  cannon, 
1,100  wagons,  and  4,000  horses. 

“ 14 — President  Lincoln  assassinated  by  J.  Wilkes  Booth  in 
Ford’s  Theatre. 

11  14 — One  of  Booth’s  confederates,  by  the  name  of  Powell,  gets 
into  Mr.  Seward’s  room,  and  stabs  him  while  in  bed. 

11  14 — Gen.  Anderson,  who,  four  years  ago,  was  obliged  to  sur- 
render fort  Sumter,  to-day  hoists  the  United  States  flag  in 
the  same  place  from  which  it  had  been  lowered  when  it  sur- 
rendered in  1861. 

u 15 — President  Lincoln  died  at  twenty-two  minutes  past  seven 
this  morning. 

“ 15 — Andrew  Johnson,  the  Vice  President,  sworn  in  as  President. 

ie  15 — The  United  States  7.30  bonds  were  yesterday  and  to-day 
subscribed  for  to  the  amount  of  over  $9,000,000,  such  was 
the  confidence  in  our  government,  notwithstanding  the  Pre- 
sident’s death. 

tl  16 — The  whole  country  was  in  mourning  for  Lincoln’s  death, 
by  every  demonstration  of  sorrow  which  could  be  shown. 

“ 18 — Paine,  or  Powell,  who  attempted  to  assassinate  Secretary 
Seward,  was  arrested  at  Mrs.  Surratt’s  house  in  Washing- 
ton. Mrs.  S.  was  also  arrested. 

u 18 — Gen.  Sherman  agrees  to  a basis  of  peace  with  Gen.  John- 
son, which  was  approved  of  by  Jeff.  Davis  and  Brecken- 
ridge. 

u 19 — Funeral  ceremonies  of  President  Lincoln  are  performed  at 
Washington. 

il  21 — Lincoln’s  body  lies  in  state  in  Baltimore. 

u 21 — Gen.  Sherman’s  terms  made  with  Johnston  for  peace  were 


498  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

disapproved  by  the  cabinet,  and  he  was  ordered  to  resume 
hostilities. 

April  23 — The  body  of  President  Lincoln  lies  in  state  at  Philadel- 
phia, and  was  visited  by  an  immense  concourse  of  people. 

“ 24 — It  arrives  in  New  York. 

1 24 — Gen.  Grant  arrives  at  Gen.  Sherman's  headquarters,  when 

word  was  sent  to  Gen.  Johnson  that  no  civil  matters  could 
be  treated  of  with  him. 

u 25 — Great  military  and  civic  procession  in  New  York  on  the 
removal  of  Lincoln’s  remains  westward.  Some  say  there 
were  700,000  people  upon  the  streets. 

a 25 — Booth,  the  assassin  of  Lincoln,  and  Harold,  his  confeder- 
ate, captured  in  a barn  three  miles  from  Port  Boyal,  Ya. 
Harold  surrendered,  but  Booth  refused  to  come  out  of  the 
barn  in  which  he  was  secreted,  when  sergeant  Corbett  (in 
violation  of  the  orders  of  his  superior  officer)  shot  Booth  in 
the  neck,  and  he  died  four  hours  afterwards.  Thus,  by  the 
over-zeal  of  a soldier,  the  gallows  was  cheated  of  its  lawful 
due — for  no  assassin,  in  all  history,  had  so  little  justification 
for  murder  as  Booth. 

u 26 — Gen.  Johnson  surrenders  to  Gen.  Grant  all  the  southern 
troops  from  Virginia  to  the  Chattahoochee  river,  on  the 
same  terms  granted  to  Gen.  Lee. 

u 23 — The  steamboat  Sultana,  with  over  2,000  persons  on  board, 
mostly  U.  S.  soldiers,  blew  up  on  the  Mississippi  river,  near 
Memphis — not  more  than  700  of  all  these  were  saved. 

u 29 — The  arms  and  military  stores  of  Gen.  Johnson’s  army  are 
delivered  up  to  the  United  States  at  Greensboro. 

May  2 — Beward  offered  for  the  arrest  of  Jeff  Davis,  and  others  who 
were  supposed  to  have  been  parties  to  the  assassination  of 
President  Lincoln. 

il  3 — President  Lincoln’s  remains  arrived  at  his  home,  Spring- 
field,  111. 

u 4 — The  southern  Gen.  Dick  Taylor  surrendered  to  Gen.  Canby 
all  the  southern  forces  yet  remaining  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river. 

u 9 — The  southern  Gen.  Porrest  disbanded  his  troops  and  advises 
them  to  go  home  peaceably. 

“ 10 — The  trial  of  President  Lincoln’s  assassins  commenced. 

11  10 — Jeff.  Davis  captured,  dressed  in  woman’s  clothes,  in  Georgia, 
by  Col  Pritchard,  of  the  fourth  Michigan  cavalry. 

u 13 — Over  $30,000,000  of  the  seven-thirty  loan  taken  this  day. 

u 21 — Hon.  Jeremiah  Clemens,  ex-United  States  Senator  from  Ala- 
bama, died. 

u 30 — The  great  northwest  sanitary  fair  opened  at  Chicago. 

June  1 — This  day  was  observed  as  a day  of  national  humiliation,  on 
account  of  President  Lincoln’s  death. 

1 4 — Kobert  Toombs,  of  Georgia,  committed  suicide  to  avoid 

arrest. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


499 


July  4 — The  corner  stone  of  the  Gettysburg  monument  was  laid  to- 
day, amid  appropriate  ceremonies,  and  in  presence  of  many 
distinguished  persons. 

“ 5 — The  assassins  of  President  Lincoln  found  guilty.  Four  of 
them  were  hanged  the  next  day,  or  on  the  7th  inst. 

“ 11 — Gen.  Robt.  E.  Lee  elected  president  of  the  Washington  Col- 
lege, Ya. 

Sept.  20 — Capt.  James  N.  Moore  reports  having  marked  over  12,000 
graves  of  our  prisoners,  who  died  at  Andersonville,  Ga. 

Sept.  29 — Osage  Indians  cede  1,000,000  acres  of  their  lands  for  $300,- 

000. 

Oct.  20 — Champ  Ferguson,  one  of  the  very  worst  of  the  guerillas 
during  the  war,  was  this  day  hanged  at  Nashville. 

Nov.  10 — Henry  Wirz,  keeper  of  the  Andersonville  prison,  in  Geor- 
gia, was  executed  to-day  at  Washington. 

Dec.  18 — Secretary  Seward  formally  announced  the  final  extinction 
of  slavery  in  the  United  States.  This  was  of  course  the 
case,  as  soon  as  three-fourths  of  the  States  had  adopted  the 
thirteenth  amendment  of  the  Constitution,  which  had  been 
done ; and  Sec.  Seward  now  notifies  the  world  of  the  fact. 

1866. 

Jan.  1 — Emancipation  celebration  at  Nashville. 

“ 2 — Hon.  Henry  Winter  Davis’  funeral  at  Baltimore. 

tl  12 — Henry  Clay’s  homestead  sold  to  the  Kentucky  University. 

11  17-23 — Slavery  Constitutional  amendment  passed  by  the  Leg- 
islature of  New  Jersey.  Nearly  all  the  other  States  had 
done  this  before  now.  But, 

<£  25 — Kentucky  rejected  it. 

££  31 — Commissary  and  quartermaster’s  warehouses  burnt  at  fort 
Riley,  Kansas.  Loss  $1,000,000. 

Feb.  2 — Civil  rights  bill  passed  the  Senate. 

<£  11 — The  IT.  S.  Sanitary  Commission  held  its  last  anniversary,  at 
Washington. 

“ 12 — Memorial  services  in  honor  of  President  Lincoln  held  in 
the  capitol ; address  by  Hon.  Geo.  Bancroft. 

££  19 — Acting  President  Johnson  vetoed  the  freedman’s  bureau 
bill. 

a 22 — The  134th  anniversary  of  Washington’s  birth  day  celebrated 
at  Washington. 

££  26 — Richmond  meeting  held  to  ratify  President  Johnson’s  policy. 

March  5 — Democratic  convention  in  Pennsylvania  nominated  Heis- 
ter  Clymer  for  Governor. 

11  10 — North  Carolina  passed  a negro  rights  bill,  and  two  days 

after  the  negro  testimony  bill. 

££  12 — Texas  State  convention  declared  their  secession  ordinance 

null  and  void. 

<£  13 — The  civil  rights  bill  passed  the  house,  as  amended. 


500  OUTLINES  OP  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

March  14 — It  passed  the  Senate. 

11  19 — The  reciprocity  treaty  with  Canada  expired  this  day. 

“ 20 — Gen.  Burnside  nominated  for  Union  Governor  of  Bhode 

Island. 

u 27 — The  civil  rights  hill  vetoed  by  President  Johnson. 

This  and  the  two  preceding  months  were  distinguished  by 
great  fires,  and  the  destruction  of  both  public  and  private 
property,  amounting  to  many  millions. 

April  2 — Gen.  Hawley  elected  Bepublican  Governor  of  Connecticut. 

11  4 — Gen.  Burnside  elected  Governor  of  Bhode  Island. 

u 6 — Civil  rights  bill  passed  the  Senate,  over  the  veto,  and,  April 
9,  passed  the  house  in  the  same  way. 

u 30 — Two  churches  of  colored  people  burnt  in  Petersburg,  Va., 
by  incendiaries. 

May  15 — The  President  vetoes  the  bill  admitting  Colorado  as  a State. 

“ 29 — Lieut.  Gen.  Scott  died  at  West  Point. 

June  3 — Gen.  Meade  sent  to  Buffalo  to  prevent  the  Fenians  from 
crossing  into  Canada. 

“ 6 — The  President  issued  a proclamation  against  the  invasion  of 
Canada. 

u 8 — The  14th  amendment  of  the  U.  S.  Constitution  passed  the 
Senate,  and,  June  13,  it  passed  the  house. 

July  4 — Tremendous  fire  at  Portland,  Me.;  $15,000,000  burnt.  Wo 
notice  this  great  fire  because  the  U.  S.  government  was  a 
great  loser  by  it. 

“ 16 — The  freedmen’s  bureau  bill  vetoed  by  acting  President  John- 
son. 

“ 23 — Tennessee  re-admitted  by  joint  resolution  of  both  houses  of 
Congress.  She  was  the  first  State  re-admitted  after  the  war. 

a 25 — Lieut.  Gen.  Grant  nominated  general,  and  Yice  Admiral 
Farragut  to  be  admiral. 

“ 27 — Hon.  Mr.  Harlan,  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  resigns,  and 
the  President  nominated  O.  H.  Browning  as  his  successor. 

u 28 — The  Great  Eastern  arrives  at  Heart’s  Content  with  the  At- 
lantic cable.  Great  rejoicings. 

“ 30 — Great  riot  at  New  Orleans  on  the  re-assembling  of  the 
State  convention.  Many  negroes  and  whites  were  killed. 

Aug.  1 — Gen.  Sherman  commissioned  as  Lieutenant  General. 

“ 8 — Emma,  dowager  Queen  of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  arrives  at 

New  York  as  a national  guest. 

11  12 — Complete  telegraphic  communication  between  New  York 
and  Europe  by  the  Atlantic  cable. 

u 31 — American  and  English  naval  commanders  destroy  22  Chi- 
nese piratical  junks,  besides  killing  and  capturing  many  of 
the  pirates. 

Sept.  6 — The  monument  to  the  memory  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  at 
Chicago,  inaugurated.  It  was  the  President’s  journey  to 
attend  this  inauguration  that  was  called  his  “ swinging  the 
circle'’ — a figure  borrowed  from  one  of  his  own  speeches. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


501 


Oct.  9 — Gen.  Geary  elected  Governor  of  Pennsylvania. 

“ 23 — Dedication  of  the  Stonewall  Jackson  cemetery  at  Winches* 
ter,  Ya. 

Nov.  6 — State  elections  to-day  in  New  Jersey,  Delaware,  Maryland, 
Massachusetts,  Michigan,  Missouri,  Minnesota,  Illinois, 
Wisconsin,  Kansas,  Nevada  and  New  York. 

11  20 — The  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  hold  a convention  at  In- 
dianapolis, IncL 

“ 22 — Raphael  Semmes,  of  Jhe  Alabama,  appointed  professor  of 
moral  philosophy  iji  the  Louisiana  State  Seminary. 

Dec.  7 — The  Louisiana  Legislature  rejects  the  fourteenth  Constitu- 
tional amendment,  as  a number  of  the  southern  States  had 
before  done. 

11  13 — The  Legislature  of  the  Territory  of  Colorado  organized. 

“ 16 — The  U.  S.  frigate  New  Ironsides  burned  at  League  Island. 

“ 22 — Three  officers  and  90  soldiers  massacred  by  Indians  near  fort 
Kearney. 

“ 24 — U.  S.  minister  John  A.  Dix  presented  to  the  Emperor  Na- 
poleon. 

1867. 

Jan.  7 — District  of  Columbia  suffrage  hill  vetoed  by  the  President, 
and  passed  by  the  Senate  over  the  veto. 

11  8 — The  fourteenth  Constitutional  amendment  ratified  by  Mis- 
souri, and  on  the  9th,  rejected  by  Virginia — ratified  by 
New  York  on  the  10th. 

11  10 — The  Territorial  franchise  bill  passed,  and  u pocketed  ,}  by 
the  President. 

11  28 — The  Nebraska  bill  vetoed  by  the  President,  but  subsequently 
passed  over  his  veto. 

During  this  month  the  greater  number  of  the  northern  States 
ratified  the  Constitutional  amendment,  while  most  of  the 
southern  States  rejected  it. 

Feb’y  20 — Military  government  bill  passed  by  both  houses. 

March  1 — Nebraska  proclaimed  a State  by  the  President. 

u 2 — The  President  vetoes  the  military  government  bill;  also 

the  civil  tenure  of  office  bill.  Both,  however,  were  re-passed 
over  his  vetoes. 

u 4 — The  39th  Congress  closed,  and  the  40th  organized. 

11  11 — Military  generals  assigned  to  their  various  districts  in  the 

south. 

11  30 — The  President  announces  the  treaty  with  Russia  by  which 

the  United  States  bought  all  her  North  American  posses- 
sions for  $7,200,000. 

April  3 — Gen.  Burnside  re-elected  Governor  of  Rhode  Island. 

May  13 — Jeff.  Davis  admitted  to  bail  in  $100,000 ; Horace  Gree- 
ley and  others  becoming  his  bondsmen. 

June  19 — The  Arch-duke  Maximillian  shot  by  order  of  the  Mexican 


502 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


government.  We  notice  this  to  show  how  the  French  move- 
ment, which  was  inimical  to  the  United  States,  ended. 

July  13 — The  steam  ram  Dunderberg,  having  been  bought  by  France, 
sailed  for  Cherbourg. 

August  1 — Gov.  Brownlow  re-elected  Governor  of  Tennessee. 

“ 5— The  President  requests  Sec.  Stanton  to  resign  his  office, 

but  Sec.  Stanton  would  not  do  it,  when  the  President  sus- 
pended him,  and  appointed  Gen.  Grant  Secretary  of  War 
ad  interim. 

23 — Grand  ovation  to  Admiral  Farragut  by  Russian  officers 
at  Cronstadt. 

Sept.  IT — The  Antietam  National  Cemetery  dedicated,  with  impos- 
ing ceremonies. 

Dec.  7 — The  resolution  to  impeach  President  Johnson,  voted  down 
by  108  to  57,  in  the  House  ; that  is,  108  were  for  impeach- 
ment, and  57  against  it.  A two-thirds ? vote  was  required  to 
carry  it,  which  would  be  110. 

1868. 

Jan.  1 — Fourth  emancipation  anniversary  celebrated  in  Richmond 
and  Charleston. 

“ 6 — Censure  of  the  President  by  Congress  for  removing  General 
Sheridan  from  his  command  of  the  5th  military  district. 

Feb.  7 — The  resignation  of  U.  S.  minister  Adams  announced  in  Lon- 
don. 

u 19 — U.  S.  Senate  refused  to  admit  P.  F.  Thomas,  of  Maryland, 
to  a seat  on  account  of  his  disloyalty. 

“ 20 — The  New  Jersey  House  concurs  with  the  Senate  in  with- 
drawing its  approval  of  the  fourteenth  amendment  of  the 
U.  S.  Constitution. 

The  Legislatures  of  New  Jersey,  Ohio  and  Oregon  each  dis- 
tinguished themselves  by  this  same  act. 

11  21 — The  President  discharges  Secretary  Stanton,  and  appoints 
Gen.  Lorenzo  Thomas  in  his  place.  The  Senate  thereupon 
deny  his  power  to  do  so. 

“ 22 — Thaddeus  Stephens  reports  resolutions  to  impeach  the  Presi- 
dent. 

“ 24 — The  House  resolve  (126  to  57)  that  the  President  be  im- 
peached. 

March  2— New  articles  of  impeachment  adopted  by  the  House. 

“ 5 — The  U.  S.  Senate  organizes  itself  into  a court  of  impeach- 

ment, with  Chief  Justice  Chase  at  its  head,  for  the  trial  of 
President  Johnson. 

April  24 — Gen.  Schofield  nominated  for  Secretary  of  War  by  the 
President. 

May  16 — The  President  acquitted  on  the  vote  in  the  Senate  for  his 
impeachment — 35  votes  for,  to  19  against  it. 

“ 20 — The  Republican  convention  at  Chicago  nominated  General 

U.  S.  Grant  for  President. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


503 


May  22 — The  Chinese  embassy  arrive  at  New  York. 

“ 29— Gen.  Schofield  confirmed  by  the  Senate  as  Secretary  of 

War. 

June  1 — Grant  and  Colfax  accept  their  nominations  for  President 
and  Vice  President. 

“ 4 — John  W.  Forney  resigned  as  secretary  of  the  Senate. 

u 5 — Hon.  Anson  Burlingame  and  the  Chinese  embassy  presented 
to  the  President. 

a 6 — The  Arkansas  admission  bill  passes  Congress. 

“ 9 — Admission  bills  for  the  States  of  North  Carolina,  South 

Carolina,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  Alabama  and  Florida,  pass 
the  Senate. 

“ 12 — Senator  Reverdy  Johnson  confirmed  as  minister  to  England. 

“ 20 — The  Arkansas  admission  bill  vetoed  by  the  President,  and 
passed  over  his  veto. 

11  24 — The  President  also  vetoed  the  southern  States  admission 
bill,  which  was  disposed  of  in  the  same  way. 

July  4 — Horatio  Seymour,  of  New  York,  nominated  for  President 
by  the  Democratic  convention  held  in  Tammany  Hall,  N. 
Y.  city,  and  Francis  P.  Blair,  of  Mo.,  for  Vice  President. 

“ 4 — General  political  amnesty  proclamation  issued  by  President 
Johnson. 

11  11 — Ratification  of  the  fourteenth  amendment  by  North  Caro- 
lina and  Florida,  proclaimed  by  the  President. 

“ 16 — Admiral  Farragut  and  officers  entertained  by  the  Queen  of 
England. 

<{  20 — Bill  to  exclude  the  electoral  votes  of  the  non-organized 
States,  vetoed  by  the  President,  and  re-passed  by  Congress. 

11  21 — Congress  declares  the  fourteenth  amendment  ratified. 

u 28 — Naturalization  treaty  with  Hesse  concluded. 

11  28 — Proclamation  by  the  Secretary  of  State  that  the  fourteenth 
amendment  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  had 
been  ratified  by  three-fourths  of  the  States. 

11  28 — Military  government  ceases  in  Arkansas,  North  Carolina, 
South  Carolina,  Louisiana,  Georgia,  Florida  and  Alabama. 

Aug.  6 — Jeff.  Davis  arrives  at  Liverpool. 

“ 13 — The  U.  S.  steamers  Wateree  and  Fredonia  lost  by  the  terrL 
ble  earthquake  in  Peru.  By  this  earthquake  40,000  lives 
are  supposed  to  have  been  lost. 

Sept.  1 — Vermont  State  election.  Gov.  Page  (Rep.)  re-elected. 

“ 2 — Negro  members  of  the  Georgia  Legislature  expelled  on  ac- 

count of  color. 

tl  14 — Maine  State  election.  Gov.  Chamberlain  (Rep.)  re-elected. 

“ 48 — Battle  with  Indians  near  Republican  river.  Lieut.  Beecher 
and  Dr.  Moore  killed. 

u 19 — Serious  political  riots  at  Camilla,  Geo.,  and  many  colored 
persons  killed  and  wounded. 

11  21 — Congress  met  and  adjourned  to  Oct.  16. 


504  OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 

Sept.  29 — Gen.  Reynolds  issues  an  order  prohibiting  the  election  on 
the  3d  of  Nov.  in  Texas,  for  President  and  Vice  President. 

Oct.  13 — State  elections  in  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Ne- 
braska. Republicans  victorious  in  all  these  States. 

“ 17 — The  Oregon  Legislature  withdraws  its  assent  to  the  four- 

teenth Constitutional  amendment. 

Nov.  3 — Gen.  Ulysses  S.  Grant  and  Schuyler  Colfax  elected  for  Pres- 
ident and  Vice  President  of  the  United  States  by  309,722 
majority  of  the  popular  vote. 

The  whole  popular  vote  for  President  in  1868,  was  5,722,984, 
but  the  vote  of  Nevada  is  only  estimated,  while  Virginia, 
Mississippi  and  Texas  did  not  vote  at  all.  Florida  chose 
her  Presidential  electors  by  her  Legislature.  The  electoral 
vote  was ; For  Grant  and  Colfax,  214  j Seymour  and  Blair, 
80. 

“ 27 — Black  Kettle’s  band  of  Indians  defeated  by  Gen.  Custer  on 
Washita  river.  The  chief  and  over  100  of  his  warriors 
killed. 

Dec.  1 — Fort  LaFayette,  in  New  York,  destroyed  by  fire. 

u 3 — Political  murders  continue  in  the  State  of  Arkansas. 

“ 7 — The  third  session  of  the  40th  Congress  commences. 

16  15 — A re-union,  at  Chicago,  of  all  the  Union  armies  of  the  late 
war. 

“ 25 — General  proclamation  of  amnesty  issued  by  the  President. 
This  might  be  called  a kind  of  “ winding  up  ” of  our  great 
civil  war. 

1869. 

Jan.  7 — John  Minor  Botts,  a distinguished  statesman  of  Va.,  died. 

Feb.  19 — An  assay  office  was  established,  by  Act  of  Congress,  in  the 
territory  of  Idaho. 

Feb.  27 — By  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  the  Fifteenth  Amendment 
to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  recommended 
to  the  several  States  for  adoption. 

March  4 — Ulysses  S.  Grant  was  inaugurated  the  eighteenth  President 
of  the  United  States,  and  Schuyler  Colfax,  Vice  President. 
a 4 — The  first  regular  session  of  the  41st  Congress  met. 
u 13 — James  Guthrie,  an  eminent  statesman  and  U.  S.  Senator 
of  Kentucky,  died. 

“ 25 — Edward  Bates,  of  Missouri,  who  was  Attorney  General 
under  Mr.  Lincoln,  died. 

July  30 — Isaac  Toucey,of  Connecticut,  died.  He  had  been  Governor 
of  his  State,  U.  S.  Senator  and  Secretary  of  War,  and  also 
Attorney  General  of  the  United  States. 

Sept.  8 — Wm.  Pitt  Fessenden,  U.  S.  Senator  of  Me.,  and  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury,  (1864-5,)  died. 

11  10 — John  Bell,  a distinguished  statesman  of  Tennessee,  and 
candidate  for  the  Presidency  in  1860,  died. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD. 


505 


Sept.  6 — John  A.  Rawlins  died,  while  holding  the  office  of  Secretary 
of  War. 

Oct.  8 — Franklin  Pierce,  ex-President  of  the  United  States,  died. 

“ 16 — Joseph  Ritner,  ex-Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  died. 

u 31 — Charles  A.  Wickliff,  of  Ky.,  ex-Postmaster  General,  died. 

Nov.  7 — Charles  Stewart,  Rear-Admiral  in  the  U.  S.  Navy,  died, 
aged  91.  Had  been  in  the  Navy  70  years. 

u 10 — Maj.  Gen.  Wool,  of  the  United  States  Army,  died  at  Troy, 
N.  Y.,  aged  89. 

“ 11 — Robert  J.  Walker,  of  Miss.,  ex-Sec’y  of  the  Treasury,  died. 

“ 12 — Amos  Kendall,  ex-Postmaster  General,  died. 

Dec.  24 — Edwin  M.  Stanton,  a very  distinguished  statesman  of  Pa., 
died.  He  had  been  Attorney  General  and  Secretary  of  W ar, 
and  Judge  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court. 

1870. 

Jan.  20 — H.  R.  Revels,  a colored  man,  of  Mississippi,  was  chosen 
U.  S.  Senator ; the  first  colored  man  who  held  a seat  in 
the  U.  S.  Senate. 

“ 23 — The  U.  S.  Steamer  Oneida  sunk  off  the  coast  of  Japan  by 
the  British  steamer  Bombay  ; loss,  176  lives. 

Feb.  22 — Anson  Burlingame,  formerly  U.  S.  Minister,  and  after- 
wards Minister  from  China,  died  at  St.  Petersburg, 
Russia. 

Mar.  28 — Maj.  Gen.  Geo.  H.  Thomas  died  in  San  Fransisco,  Cal. 

“ 30 — The  ratification  of  the  Fifteenth  Amendment  of  the  Con- 
stitution  proclaimed  by  the  U.  S.  Secretary  of  State. 

June  15 — Death  of  Jerome  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  in  Baltimore,  Md 

July  12 — Death  of  Admiral  Dahlgren  in  Washington. 

“ 20 — Suicide  of  M.  Prevost  Paradol,  French  Minister,  at  Wash- 
ington. 

Aug.  14 — Admiral  D.  G.  Farragut,  of  the  U.  S.  Navy,  died  at 
Portsmouth,  N.  II. 

Sept.  7 — The  French  Republic  recognized  by  the  United  States 
Government. 

Oct.  12 — Gen.  R.  E.  Lee  died  at  Lexington,  Va. 


50G 


OUTLINES  OF  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


The  Public  Debt. 

\ 

The  public  debt  of  any  country  is  a very  important 
matter  to  all  the  people  of  that  country,  for  they  must 
pay  it — some  more,  some  less,  according  (if  the  taxes 
are  impartially  assessed)  to  their  respective  ability  to 
bear  the  burthen. 

The  public  debt  of  the  United  States,  at  the  present 
time,  (owing  to  our  recent  civil  war,)  is  enormous — 
greater,  we  hope,  than  it  ever  will  be  again.  It  is  now, 
(May,  1871,)  as  shown  by  official  statements,  $2,303,- 
573,543 — which,  estimating  our  population  at  forty 
millions,  (considered  very  near  the  actual  number,) 
gives  $59.59  as  the  proportion  of  each  person  in  the 
nation.  But  $64,457,320  of  this  indebtedness  consists 
of  United  States  bonds,  issued  to  the  Pacific  Bail  Road 
Companies,  which  those  companies  owe  to  the  gov- 
ernment. This  being  deducted,  leaves  $2,239,116,223 
as  the  real  debt  to  be  paid  by  the  people. 

For  the  purpose  of  showing  what  the  debt  was  at 
each  year,  and  to  show  how  it  has  varied  from  time  to 
time  since  1791,  (two  years  after  the  government  was 
established,)  we  give  the  amount  as  it  stood  on  the  1st 
day  of  January  in  each  year,  from  1791  to  1842.  After 
this  time  the  1st  day  of  July  is -the  date  at  which  the 
statement  was  generally  made,  and,  in  a few  cases,  it 
was  given  at  other  dates. 

This  tabular  view  of  our  national  indebtedness  forms 
an  interesting  subject  for  examination  to  every  one  who 
takes  an  interest  in  public  affairs. 


THE  PUBLIC  DEBT, 


507 


PUBLIC  DEBT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

In  Each  Year,  from  1791  to  1871. 


1791. . .75. 463. 476.52 
1792.  ..77, 227, 924.66 

1793.. ..80. 352. 634.04 

1794.. . 78.427.404.77 

1795. . .80. 747. 587.38 

1796. . .83. 762. 172.07 

1797. . .82. 064. 479.33 

1798. . .79. 228. 529.12 

1799. . .78. 408. 669.77 

1800. . .82. 976. 294.35 

1801. . .83. 038.050.80 

1802.. ..80. 712.632.25 

1803. . .77. 054. 686.30 

1804. . .86. 427. 120.88 

1805.. ..82. 312. 150.50 

1806.. . 75.723.270.66  - 

1807.. ..69. 218. 398.64 

1808. . .65. 196. 317.97 

1809.. . 57.023.192.09 

1810. . .53. 173. 217. 52 

1811. . .48. 005. 587.76 

1812. . .45. 209. 737  90 

1813. . .55. 962. 827.57 

1814..  .81. 487. 846.24 

1816 99, 833, 660.15 

W6..127, 834, 933.74 

1817.. 123. 491. 965.16 


1818.. . 103.466.633.83 

1819.. .  95,529,648.28 

1820.. .  91,015,566.15 

1821.. .  89,987,427.66 

1822.. .  93,546,676.98 

1823.. .  90,875,877.28 

1024.. .  90,269,777.77 

1825.. .  83,788,432.71 

1826.. ..  81,054,059.99 

1827.. .  73,987,357.20 

1028.. ..  67,475,043.87 

1829.. .  68,421,413.67 

1830.. ..  48,565,406.50 

1831.. .  39,123,191.68 

1832.. .  24,322,235.18 

1833.. .  7,001,032.88 

1834.. .  4,760,081.08 

1835.. .  351,289.05 

1836.. .  291,089.05 

1837.. .  1,878,223.55 

1838.. .  4,857,660.46 

1839.. .  11,983,737.53 

1840.. ..  5,125,077.63 

1841.. ..  6,737,398.00 

1842.. ..  15,028,486.37 

1843.. ..  27,203,450.69 

1844.. .  24,748,188.23 


1845  17,093,794.80 

1846  16,750,926.33 

1847  38,956,623.38 

1848  48,526,379.37 

1849  64,704,693.71 

1850  64,228,238  37 

1851  62,560,395.26 

1852  65,131,692.13 

1853  67,340,628.78 

1854  47,242,206.05 

1855  39,969,731.05 

1856  30,963,909.64 

1857  29,060,386  90 

1858  44,910,777.66 

1859  58,754,699.33 

1860  64,769,703.08 

1861  90,867,828.68 

1862  514,211,371.92 

1863.. .  1,098, 793, 181. 37 

1864.. .1. 740. 690. 489.49 

1865.. .2. 682. 593. 026.53 

1866.. .2. 783. 425. 879.21 

1867.. .2. 692. 199. 215.12 

1868..  2,643,753,566.38 

1869.. 2.652.533.662.28 
1870.-2,509,270.608.00 

1871. . 2. 303. 573. 543. 00 


The  following  description  of  the  evidences  of  our 
national  indebtedness,  will  be  interesting  to  some  of 
our  readers  : 

When  the  government  borrows  money,  it  must  give 
the  lender  some  evidence  of  its  indebtedness,  contain- 
ing a promise  to  pay  it  at  some  future  time.  These 
documents  are  generally  called  46  bonds, ” — United 
States  bonds — and  bear  different  names,  according  to 
the  rate  of  interest  they  draw,  or  according  to  the  time 


508 


OUTLINES  OE  U.  S.  GOVERNMENT. 


they  run  before  the  government  is  obliged  to  pay  them. 
For  example — 

United  States  Sixes  means  the  bonds  which  draw  6 
per  cent,  interest. 

United  States  Fives  or  Sevens,  those  which  draw  5 or 
1 7 per  cent,  interest. 

Other  bonds,  as  before  stated,  derive  their  names 
from  the  time  they  have  to  run  before  they  become 
payable,  some  bearing  a higher  and  some  a lower  rate 
of  interest.  For  example — 

Five  Twenties , so  called  because  it  is  optional  with 
the  government  whether  it  will  pay  them  at  the  end  of 
5 or  20  years.  These  bear  6 per  cent,  interest,  and  were 
issued  from  1862  to  1868,  inclusive.  They  may  be  re- 
deemed after  5 years,  and  are  payable  at  the  expiration  of 
20  years. 

Ten  Forties , redeemable  in  10  years,  and  payable  in 
40  years  from  date  of  issue,  viz:  1864. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  has  been  authorized 
to  substitute  $500,000,000  5 per  cent.,  $300,000,000 
4|  per  cent,,  and  $700,000,000  4 per  cent,  bonds  in  lieu 
of  $1,500,000,000  of  5-20  bonds  bearing  6 per  cent., 
which  will  lessen  the  interest,  yearly,  $23,500,000. 
These  new  bonds  will  be  held  largely  by  the  National 
Banks  as  a basis  for  their  circulation. 

Pacific  Rail-Road  Bonds  to  the  amount  of  $64,000,- 
000,  were  issued  by  the  U.  S.  government  to  assist  the 
companies  which  constructed  that  road.  Their  name 
requires  no  explanation.  They  were  issued  in  1865 
and  after,  and  have  30  years  to  run. 

But  there  are  other  evidences  of  the  indebtedness  of 
the  United  States  besides  the  above  named  bonds ; 
these  are  ‘ treasury  notes,”  “ gold  certificates,”  “three 
per  cent,  certificates,”  “United  States  notes,”  (green- 
backs,) and  the  “ fractional  currency,”  (bills  less  than 
one  dollar).  All  these  the  government  must  redeem 
at  some  future  day. 


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